LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS 


OF 


SIMEON  BALDWIN 


BY 

SIMEON    E.   BALDWIN,   LL.D. 

Formerly  President  of  the 
American  Historical  Association 


THE  TUTTLE,  MOREHOUSE  A  TAYLOR  CO. 
NEW  HAVEN 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


TO  MY  BROTHER 
GEORGE  WILLIAM  BALDWIN 

LAWYER, 

SOLDIER  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR, 

GENEALOGIST  OF  OUR  FAMILY, 

I  DEDICATE  THIS  BOOK. 


CONTENTS 

Foreword 

CHAPTER  I  PAGE 

Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  'Early  Family  Surroundings I 

CHAPTER  II 
Life  at  Yale  as  an  Undergraduate 18 

CHAPTER  III 
Life  at  Yale  as  a  Resident  Graduate 76 

CHAPTER  IV 
Year  as  a  School  Teacher  at  Albany 86 

CHAPTER  V 
Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 181 

CHAPTER  VI 
Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 240 

CHAPTER  VII 
Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 267 

CHAPTER  VIII 
Political  Activities  290 

CHAPTER  IX 
Public  Activities,  not  Political 311 

CHAPTER  X 
Term  in  Congress  328 

CHAPTER  XI 
Term  on  the  Bench *. 353 


vi  Contents 

CHAPTER  XII  PAGE 

Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1818  to  1851 363 

CHAPTER  XIII 
Financial  Means  and  Positions  371 

CHAPTER  XIV 
Selections  from  Correspondence  from  1786  to  1846 384 

CHAPTER  XV 
Home  Life  and  Old  Age 476 

CHAPTER  XVI 
Summation    495 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING 

Portrait  of  Simeon  Baldwin  at  the  age  of  43,  from  an 

engraving  by  St.  Memin •          title  page 

Homestead  of  Capt.  Ebenezer  Baldwin  at  Bean  Hill, 

Norwich   page     14 

Sketch  Map  of  Albany  in  1782,  by  Simeon  Baldwin  .  .  page  177 

Rear  view  of  homestead  of  Simeon  Baldwin  on  Church 

Street,  New  Haven,  from  an  amateur  pencil  sketch  page  282 

Portrait  of  Simeon  Baldwin  at  the  age  of  83,  from  a 

daguerreotype    page  493 


FOREWORD 

This  book  is  written  with  the  special  view  of  introducing 
an  ancestor  to  his  remote  descendants,  and  the  general  view 
of  picturing  the  life  and  manners  of  a  former  generation. 

Simeon  Baldwin  left  material  for  a  close  study  of  educa 
tional  methods  in  New  England  and  New  York  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He  spent  two  years 
at  Washington  as  a  member  of  Congress ;  nearly  twelve  as 
a  member  of  the  highest  court  in  his  State;  and  fifty  as  a 
practicing  lawyer.  He  was  an  active  worker  throughout  his 
long  life  in  whatever  seemed  to  him  true  lines  of  social 
advancement. 

The  mass  of  papers  of  every  sort  which  he  preserved  gives 
an  unusual  opportunity  to  a  biographer  to  reproduce  this 
figure  of  a  man  who  shared  the  life  of  two  centuries  and,  in 
each,  faithfully  served  the  community  around  him,  according 
to  his  lights  and  his  opportunities. 


CHAPTER  I 
PARENTAGE,  BOYHOOD,  AND  EARLY  FAMILY  SURROUNDINGS 

Simeon  Baldwin  was  born  in  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
December  14,  1761.  His  father,  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  born 
there  in  1710,  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith.  His  mother, 
Bethiah  (Barker)  Baldwin,  came  from  Marshfield,  Massa 
chusetts,  where  her  grandfather,  John  Barker,  was  a  prac 
ticing  lawyer.  She  was  a  sister  of  Rev.  Nehemiah  Barker 
(A.B.  Yale,  Class  of  1742)  of  Southold,  Long  Island,  and  a 
half  sister  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Deane,  the  mother  of  Silas  Deane, 
the  Revolutionary  statesman. 

Ebenezer  and  Bethiah  Baldwin  had  eight  children,  of 
whom  Simeon  was  the  youngest.  The  eldest  son,  Ebenezer 
Baldwin,  born  in  1745,  was  prepared  for  college  by  his  Uncle 
Nehemiah,  and  graduated  at  Yale  in  1763.  It  was  no  light 
burden  for  his  father  to  maintain  him  there,  but  he  was  well 
repaid.  The  boy's  scholarship  was  remarkably  high,  and  he 
became  a  distinguished  educator  and  clergyman.  In  1770 
he  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Danbury,  Con 
necticut,  and  in  1773  began  also  to  fit  boys  for  college.  This 
means  of  adding  to  their  salaries  was  quite  generally  resorted 
to  then,  by  the  country  clergy  of  the  State.1 

His  library  was  one  of  the  best  in  Connecticut.  Among 
the  first  of  those  whom  he  thus  taught  was  his  youngest 
brother,  who  was  sent  to  Danbury  for  this  purpose,  in  that 
year,  at  the  age  of  eleven.  Another  of  his  pupils  at  this 
time  was  James  Kent,  afterwards  the  great  Chancellor  of 
the  State  of  New  York.  In  1844  he  wrote  Judge  Baldwin 
the  following  letter : 

1  Memoir  of  John  Trumbull.     Hartford,  1820,  10. 


2      Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings 

"New  York  May  6h  1844 
My  dear  Friend 

It  was  the  Forenoon  of  a  beautiful  day  in  the  first  week  in 
May  1773,  that  you  called  on  me  at  Deacon  Knapp's  at  Dan- 
bury.  I  had  just  come  to  Town  from  the  Oblong2  to  see  the 
training  &  to  go  to  School  under  the  Tuition  of  your  Brother. 
This  was  exactly  77  years  ago!  &  what  grave  &  what  inter 
esting  &  pleasing  Recollections  does  that  note  of  time  create. 
Take  it  altogether  what  a  propitious  race  you  and  I  have  run, 
&  how  many  comforts  &  Joys,  &  how  much  Health,  Pros 
perity  &  Honor  we  have  felt  &  distributed !  I  was  led  to  these 
reflections  on  reading  this  morning  the  very  excellent  Mes 
sage  of  his  Excellency  the  Governor  of  Connecticut*  &  I 
congratulate  his  Parents  on  such  an  illustrious  Son.  The 
Doctrines  of  the  Message  are  just  &  admirable,  &  they  recall 
the  bright  days  of  the  Trumbulls,  Ellsworths  &  Shermans, 
who  threw  such  a  Lustre  on  the  golden  annals  of  your  State. 
Be  pleased  to  tender  my  Congratulations  &  best  respects  to 
your  Son  the  Governor  &  remember  me  affectionately  to  Mw 
Baldwin  &  your  Daughter,  &  believe  me 

most  truly  Yours— 

James  Kent 
Honble.  Simeon  Baldwin" 

Danbury,  when  this  school  was  opened  there,  was  really  a 
frontier  settlement.  No  newspaper  was  taken  in  it.  On  a 
June  day  in  1775,  a  rumor  reached  there  that  there  had  been 
a  battle  at  Bunker  Hill  near  Boston  between  the  British  and 
the  Americans.  Ebenezer  Baldwin  knew  that  the  minister 
at  New  Milford,  sixteen  miles  distant,  took  the  Connecticut 

2  "Oblong"    was  the  common  term  then  used  to  describe  a  tract  of 
that  configuration,  containing  over  60,000  acres,  ceded  to  New  York 
by  Connecticut  on  the  adjustment  of  the  South  Western  boundary  of 
Connecticut.    Documents  relating  to  the  Colonial  History  of  New  York, 
IV,  629,  V,  950,  note. 

3  Roger  Sherman  Baldwin. 


Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings      3 

Courant,  published  at  Hartford,  and  despatched  his  brother, 
then  a  lad  of  thirteen,  on  horseback  to  borrow  it.  He  was 
successful  in  getting  it,  and  brought  it  back  buttoned  under 
his  jacket,  stopping  to  read  it  aloud  once  or  twice  to  excited 
gatherings  of  men  who  knew  what  had  been  his  errand. 

The  Danbury  school  was  terminated  by  the  Revolution. 
In  August,  1776,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Baldwin  was  commissioned 
as  chaplain  of  the  fourth  and  sixteenth  regiments  of  the 
Connecticut  militia  in  the  Continental  army.  He  joined  them 
at  once  near  New  York,  and  died  on  October  I,  of  that  year, 
of  camp  fever  contracted  in  the  service.  He  was  unmarried. 
Part  of  his  estate,  which  was  of  the  value  of  £780,  went  to 
his  father,  and  helped  to  secure  the  completion  of  Simeon's 
education. 

The  boy  now  studied  for  a  time  with  Rev.  Joseph  Hunt- 
ington  (Yale,  Class  of  1762)  at  Coventry,  and  afterwards  at 
"Master  Tisdale's  School"  at  Lebanon.  He  had  been  born 
into  a  family  of  moderate  means,  and  very  different  measures 
of  education.  Shortly  after  the  death  of  his  mother,  the 
general  character  of  the  household  was  thus  described  by 
the  oldest  brother,  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  then  a  student  at  Yale, 
in  a  letter  urging  upon  one  of  his  sisters  the  duty  of 
contentment : 

"Let  us  learn  to  be  content,  not  only  In  the  Late  Depriva 
tion  of  our  Dear  Mother,  but  also  with  Regard  to  the  State  & 
Station  of  Life  we  are  placed  in:  we  seem  to  be  placed  in  a 
Middle  State,  Below  ye  Reach  of  Envy,  &  above  ye  Fears  of 
Poverty,  In  some  Measure.  I  have  Sometimes  thought  it  a 
Great  Favour  y*  I  was  not  so  Rich  as  Some  In  College ;  for 
were  I  so,  I  should  in  all  Probability  be  of  their  Disposition, 
thinking  I  had  Estate  to  live  in  all  Imaginable  Luxury,  & 
so  Neglect  those  studies  the  Attaining  of  which  is  the  End 
&  Design  of  a  College  Education,  &  which  Fit  &  Prepare  a 
man  to  Live  in  ye  World.  On  ye  other  hand  I  Cant  but 


4      Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings 

Esteem  it  a  Great  Mercy  yt  I  was  born  of  Parents  Disposed 
&  in  Some  Measure  able  to  Bestow  on  me  a  liberal  Education : 
and  if  you  Duly  Consider  it  you  will  undoubtedly  find  near 
the  Same  True  with  Regard  to  yourself  &  since  it  must  be 
allowed  our  State  is  best  as  it  is  let  us  be  Content  therewith  & 
not  Aspire  at  ye  Grandeur  &  Riches  of  ye  World." 

In  a  diary  which  Ebenezer  Baldwin  kept  during  part  of 
that  year,  he  made  this  entry  a  few  months  later : 

"1762.  April  21. 

Evening;  felt  melancholy  and  dejected  on  thinking  of 
ye  difficulties  my  Dadde  must  undergo  to  provide  for  me  here 
at  college." 

His  mother,  Bethiah  Barker  Baldwin,  had  died  on  January 
20,  1762,  when  Simeon  was  but  a  few  weeks  old.  Ebenezer 
Baldwin  married  again  on  July  n,  1764,  Mrs.  Esther  Backus 
(ncc  Clark),  by  whom  he  had  no  children.  She  was  born  in 
1723;  married  first  a  widower,  Ezra  Lathrop,  who  died 
before  her;  then,  in  1754,  another  widower,  Jabez  Backus 
of  Bozrah;  and  finally,  in  1764,  Ebenezer  Baldwin.  Jabez 
Backus  was  the  father  by  his  first  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Charles 
Backus  of  Somers  (Yale,  Class  of  1789) ;  and,  by  his  second 
wife,  of  Oliver  Backus,  who  was  a  co-executor  with  Simeon 
Baldwin  of  Ebenezer  Baldwin's  will.4 

Simeon  Baldwin  was  warmly  attached  to  his  stepmother,— 
the  only  mother  he  had  ever  known,  and  who  treated  him  as 
if  he  had  been  her  own  child. 

In  many  things,  however,  his  sister  Bethiah  shared  with 
her  a  mother's  part  to  him.  When  their  mother  died,  she 
was  a  lively,  rattling,  but  sensible  and  shrewd  girl  of  nine 
teen;  tall  and  vigorous.  She  read  solid  books  and  profited 
by  them.  In  one  letter  we  hear  of  her  taking  up  the  Spec- 

4  Old  Families  of  Norwich,  10,  13,  14. 


Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings      5 

tator;  in  another  she  writes  her  brother,  early  in  his  College 
life,  that  their  brother  in  law  Jacob  Witter  had  bought 
Chesterfield's  Letters  and  that,  when  he  comes  home,  he  had 
better  read  them,  as  they  are  full  of  fine  observations  for 
youth.  She  kept  a  spirited  and  graphic  journal,  in  1770, 
of  a  horseback  trip  to  Danbury,  to  attend  the  ordination  of 
her  brother  Ebenezer,  which  has  been  published  in  the  Papers 
of  the  New  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society.5 

She  did  a  good  deal  towards  supplying  the  wardrobe  of 
her  brothers,  by  her  needle,  and  after  they  became  able  to 
give  her  some  compensation  for  such  services,  they  were  glad 
to  do  so. 

A  younger  sister,  Mary,  did  the  same,  as  she  grew  up.  In 
July,  1782,  when  her  brother  Simeon  was  spending  his  year 
in  New  Haven  as  a  resident  graduate,  a  letter  from  her  shows 
that  she  was  sending  him  two  pairs  of  worsted  and  one  of 
silk  stockings.  It  also  asks  him  to  send  back  his  old  pair  of 
silk  stockings  if  they  are  no  longer  fit  for  him  to  wear,  so  that 
she  can  make  a  pair  of  gloves  out  of  them. 

The  family  of  Ebenezer  Baldwin  were  never  more  than 
moderately  circumstanced.  Norwich  was  a  small  place,  in 
which  social  lines  were  hardly  formed.  His  daughters  were 
fond  of  company,  saw  a  good  deal  of  what  there  was  of  it 
there,  and  were  not  without  ambitions  of  rising  in  the  world. 
The  Revolutionary  war,  in  bringing  so  many  French  troops 
into  Connecticut,  gave  new  color  to  its  society  gatherings. 

On  December  3,  1780,  his  sister  Mary  writes  to  Simeon 
Baldwin  thus : 

"I  think  you  have  doubtless  heard  that  there  is  a  number 
of  the  french  troops  stationed  at  Lebanon  they  seem  to  be 
the  cheif  topick  of  discourse  I  think  now  in  town  &  I  hear 
since  I  come  home  that  the  Duke  is  going  to  have  a  grand 

5  Vol.  IX. 


was 


6      Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings 

Ball  next  friday  at  Lathrops  so  as  to  get  acquainted  with 
our  Norwich  Ladys  I  suppose  he  has  had  one  at  Windham 
What  will  be  the  event  of  these  things  I  cant  say  but  he  Who 
governs  all  things  will  no  doubt  order  all  things  for  the  best." 

Early  in  1781,  a  considerable  part  of  the  family  property 
vvas  lost  by  the  mismanagement  and  improvidence  of  an  older 
brother.  Simeon  Baldwin  writes  from  College,  in  regard  to 
it,  to  his  sister  Bethiah,  on  March  3,  1781 : 

"The  unhappiness  of  our  father  &  family  is  what  I  much 
more  dread  than  the  loss  of  our  little  estate  which  I  have 
long  since  thought  inevitable — twice  has  our  brother  been 
placed  in  flourishing  Circumstances  but  how  soon  did  they 
disappear  &  what  is  it  now  but  that  he  has  fallen  upon  a 
larger  fund  to  use  in  a  similar  manner. 

The  thought  of  these  things  has  ever  urged  me  on  to 
obtain  a  good  Education  though  I  know  it  has  cost  my  father 
much  trouble  &  expence;  though  I  know  it  has  not  been  so 
much  to  my  advantage  as  it  would  have  been,  had  he  been 
better  able  to  discharge  the  expence  necessarily  attending  it. 
The  present  misfortunes  of  the  family  fall  more  immediately 
on  me  than  either  of  the  Children  as  may  readily  see  by 
reallizing  to  yourself  what  it  would  have  been,  had  it  hapned 
when  you  was  of  my  age,  to  which  I  may  add  the  thought 
of  its  being  an  only  brother — Tis  true,  I  flatter'd  myself  with 
the  thought  of  spending  some  time  at  home  to  regain  the  time 
I  lost  in  the  Course  of  my  Collegiate  Life,  but  to  appearance 
this  is  superseded." 

All  was  not  sunshine  in  Simeon  Baldwin's  youth,  but  he 
always  endeavored  to  make  the  best  of  things.  In  looking 
back  on  it,  when  over  eighty,  he  wrote  one  of  his  sons  that, 
when  a  boy,  he  used  to  have  gloomy  feelings  occasionally,  and 
found  that  they  could  be  best  dissipated  by  steady  and 
systematic  work. 

He  was  fond  of  his  family,  and  they  were  proud  of  him. 
The  three  following  letters  give  one  a  glimpse  of  the  Norwich 


Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings      7 

home  in  1783.     The  first  was  from  Dorothea  Baldwin,  a 
ten-year-old  daughter  of  his  older  brother,  Oliver : 

"Norwich  December  3  1783 
Dear  Sir 

Encouraged  by  Aunt  Polly  and  other  friends,  I  take  this 
oppertunity  of  writing  to  acquaint  you  of  the  welfare  of  the 
family  wich  is  as  usual  I  go  to  School  every  day  this  winter 
with  Ebenezer  and  Oliver  the  boys  learn  to  read  very  fast 
Oliver  can  read  now  without  Spelling  David  visits  Gran- 
father  every  day  and  says  catichiss  and  verses  wich  he  calls 
going  to  School  I  think  I  will  now  leave  writing  begging  you 
not  to  be  offended  with  my  troubling  you  with  a  letter  but 
write  Sir  if  you  please  an  answer  &  you  will  oblidge  your 
Neice 

Dorothy  Baldwin 

P  S  Bristo  sends  his  duty  And  ses  he  learns  to  fiddle 
bravely 

He  is  to  fiddle  to  Aunt  Molly's  wedding" 

The  Oliver  named  in  her  letter,  Ebenezer,  and  David  were 
Dorothea's  brothers.  She  afterwards  married  Benjamin 
Culver  of  Norwich.  Bristo  was  the  slave  of  Capt.  Ebenezer 
Baldwin.6  "Molly"  was  Simeon  Baldwin's  sister,  who  was 
married  January  27,  1784,  to  Jabez  Colton  (Yale,  Class  of 
1775),  then  a  schoolmaster  in  Somers,  Connecticut,  but  who 
afterwards  removed,  across  the  border,  to  Longmeadow, 
Massachusetts.  They  were  the  parents  of  Rev.  Simeon 
Colton,  D.D.,  President  of  Mississippi  College. 

In  January,  1784,  Dorothea  received  this  reply  to  her  note: 

6  In  a  part  of  the  old  Norwich  burying  ground  reserved  for  the 
slaves  is  a  stone  inscribed  "to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Bristo  Zibbero  of 
Norwich,  a  captive  from  ye  land  of  Affrica,"  who  died  January  26, 
J783,  aged  66.  He  was  probably  the  father  of  the  slave  boy.  Perkins, 
Old  Houses  of  Norwich,  129. 


8      Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings 

"Y.  Coll.  12  Jany    1784- 

Your  pretty  little  Letter,  Dear  Dolly,  gave  me  much 
pleasure ;  both  because  my  little  Niece  was  so  mindful  of  me. 
&  that  I  had  one  capable  of  writing  so  much  to  their 
honour  -  -  the  handwriting  is  beautiful  I  must  confess  for 
your  age  &  the  sentiments  familiar  &  easily  expressed  -  -  It 
gives  me  an  idea  of  what  I  think  you  may  be  &  what  you 
will  be  if  you  design  to  become  a  fine  &  accomplished  Girl  - 
this  is  all  done  when  you  are  young  -  -  your  parents  will 
spare  no  pains  to  educate  you  as  far  as  belongs  to  them  - 
you  must  do  the  rest  -  -  Learn  to  write  a  good  hand,  read 
slowly  and  distinctly,  &  mind  the  sentiment;  never  hurry 
over  a  page  without  knowing  what  it  contains  -  -  even  if  the 
subject  be  ever  so  trivial,  so  it  will  lead  you  to  a  good  habit.  - 
ask  advice  what  books  to  read  &  get  your  papa  to  examine 
you.  this  method  will  store  your  young  and  tender  mind 
with  a  thousand  pretty  &  useful  things  which  now  you  cannot 
know  -  -  tis  the  greatest  and  best  source  of  female  educa 
tion.  -  -  but  'tis  not  all;  you  will  be  ashamed  to  be  ignorant 
of  any  kind  of  housework,  tis  an  accomplishment  to  a 
princess  -  -  &  I  need  not  add,  for  you  already  know,  how 
much  it  is  to  the  honor  of  little  Misses  to  be  expert  &  excell 
at  the  needle  -  -  the  accomplishments,  tho'  not  all,  yet  if 
brought  to  perfection  &  joined  with  a  mild  temper  &  sweet 
ness  of  disposition  will  make  you  distinguished  among  your 
companions  -  -  &  I  know  you'd  scorn  to  be  outdone  by  them 
in  any  thing  --  for  how  would  you  feel  to  hear  the  little  young 
Gallants  attempting  to  flatter  you  for  accomplishments  which 
you  did  not  possess- 
On  December  22,  1783,  his  sister  Mary  writes  this  letter, 
announcing  her  wedding  day: 

"Norwich,  December  the  22,  1783 

Dear  Brother.  I  take  it  upon  me  now  to  invite  you  to  wed 
ding;  yesterday,  they  say,  there  was  a  certain  couple  cryed 
of,  &  the  wedding  is  to  be  in  5  weaks  from  to  morrow :  now, 
Sir,  if  it  is  consistent  with  your  business  your  company  would 


Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings      9 

be  very  agreable  at  old  yantick  at  the  time  above  mentioned : 
however  if  it  is  not,  you  must  remember  the  day  &  drink  our 
healths  with  some  of  your  most  intimate  friends;  perhaps 
Miss  R  S7  will  be  one  of  them :  my  compliments  to  her 
&  to  all  other  acquaintance  there.  Mr  Colton  me(n)tioned 
taking  some  of  your  books  to  use  untill  you  should  call  for 
them  if  agreable  to  you  I  Suppose  he  will  mention  it  as  he 
talks  of  writing  however  your  acquainting  me  with  your 
consent  will  be  the  same,  if  you  should  have  oppertunity  to 
send  here  first  I  shall  want  much  to  hear  from  you  within 
4  weaks  from  the  date  of  this ;  whether  you  come  home  this 
winter  or  not,  I  Shall  expect  a  visit  in  the  Spring  from  you 
at  Somers,  where  expect  to  be  in  about  5  weaks:  we  have 
meet  with  a  great  many  disappointments  about  getting  ready 
or  I  should  have  been  there  now :  well  have  filled  up  one  side 
with  matrimonial  news  &  I  will  begin  this  with  the  same,  as 
I  make  no  doubt  you  will  smile  to  hear  that  Miss  Sally  Throop 
is  courted  by  one  Cap1  Peabody  living  at  the  Landing;  he 
has  been  trading  ever  since  the  war  at  some  of  the  west  india 
Islands  &  has  made  something  handsome;  after  9  years 
absence  he  is  returned  &  renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Miss 
Sally,  &  how  it  will  end  I  cant  yet  say;  perhaps  in  Marriedge ; 
&  Miss  Lois  Hinkly  has  a  suiter  from  Newlondon,  one  Cap1 
Dishon,  &  so  we  carry  on  I  believe  I  have  told  you  news 
enough  for  once,  so  will  end  my  letter  with  telling  you  father 
enjoys  health  as  usial  &  remembers  Love  to  you  Mother 
Joins  with  him  in  love  &  good  wishes  for  your  prosperity  as 
doth  your  sister 

Polly  Baldwin 
To  Mr  Simeon  Baldwin 

Dolly  has  wrote  a  letter,  &  I  would  have  you  notice  it  so 
much  as  to  write  to  her" 

At  this  time  the  social  center  of  Norwich  was  what  was 
later  called  Norwich  town,  in  contradistinction  to  the  city  of 
Norwich.  Simeon  Baldwin  grew  up  with  a  set  of  boys  living 

7  Miss  Rebecca  Sherman. 


io    Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings 

in  the  neighborhood  of  the  meeting  house  plain  and  Bean 
Hill,  one  of  whom,  Simeon  Breed,  was  to  be  his  College  class 
mate.  The  part  of  the  town  about  the  wharves,  now  much 
the  most  thickly  settled,  was  called  "the  Landing"  or 
"Chelsea." 

Captain  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  as  he  was  generally  called,  was 
a  solid  and  substantial  citizen,  doing  his  modest  part  well  as 
member  of  the  community.  He  was  one  of  those  who  could 
honestly  say  with  Agur,8  "Give  me  neither  poverty  nor 
riches."  He  had  inherited  something  from  his  father, 
Thomas  Baldwin,  who  had  also  received  something  from  his 
father,  John  Baldwin,  the  first  ancestor  of  Simeon  Baldwin 
of  the  Baldwin  name.  For  three  generations  Norwich  had 
been  the  home  town  of  the  family. 

It  is  the  family  tradition  that  John  Baldwin  came  to  the 
colony  of  New  Haven,  as  an  orphan  boy,  in  charge  of  a 
relative  who  was  a  cousin  of  John  Baldwin  of  Stonington, 
Connecticut ;  returned  to  England  to  learn  a  trade ;  learned 
that  of  a  cabinet  maker  and  chair  maker ;  then  came  to  New 
England  again;  and  in  1651°  settled  in  Guilford.  It  is  cer 
tain  that  he  married  Hannah  Birchard  there,  on  April  12, 

1653- 

In  the  records  of  the  ancient  "Joiners  and  Ceilers  Com 
pany"  of  London  is  this  entry  under  date  of  January  12, 
1646,  "John  Baldwin,  son  of  Edward  Baldwin  late  of  East 
Grinstead,  Sussex,  apprenticed  to  George  Payne  for  7  years." 
From  this  it  may  be  assumed  that  Edward  Baldwin  had  died 
before  January  12,  1646.  If  John  Baldwin  of  Guilford,  and 
afterwards  of  Norwich,  was  the  apprentice  named  (of  which 
there  has  been  found  no  further  evidence),  he  would  have 
had  time  enough  after  completing  his  term  of  service  (on 

8  Proverbs,  30,  8. 

9  Smith,  Hist,  of  Guilford,  20 ;  The  Baldwin  Genealogy,  I,  269. 


Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings     1 1 

January  12,  1653)  to  cross  the  sea,  look  about  him  for  a  place 
to  ply  his  trade,  fix  on  Guilford,  and  settle  there  before  April 
12,  1653.  He  may,  also,  have  been  discharged  by  Payne 
before  the  seven  years  of  apprenticeship  expired. 

It  was  an  unusual  thing  for  a  boy  to  make  the  journey 
twice  between  England  and  New  Haven  Colony.  This 
strongly  confirms  the  family  tradition  that  just  that  thing 
was  done  in  the  case  of  John  Baldwin  of  Norwich,  and  it  is 
certain  that  Sylvester  Baldwin,  a  cousin  of  John  Baldwin  of 
Stonington,  with  others  of  the  name,  sailed  for  New  Haven 
Colony  in  1638,  dying  on  the  voyage. 

In  1659,  John  Baldwin  was  one  of  the  original  purchasers 
of  the  lands  bought  by  a  company  of  thirty  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Guilford  to  found  the  town  of  Norwich.  He  removed  his 
family  to  the  new  settlement  in  1661.  Their  house  lot  was 
one  of  five  acres  running  from  the  highway  to  the  Yantic 
River.10  On  May  10,  1666,  the  freeman's  oath  was  admin 
istered  to  him,  at  Hartford,  before  the  General  Court,  the 
record  describing  him  as  John  Baldwin  of  Norwich.11 

In  1668  he  was  elected  one  of  the  two  "townsmen,"  or 
selectmen,  and  was  one  of  the  two  who  prepared  the  list  of 
the  freemen  of  the  Colony  living  in  the  town.  This  (or  a 
copy  of  it),  taken  as  of  October  5,  1669,  m  tne  State  archives 
was  apparently  written  by  him.  His  name  (spelt  Bauldwin) 
was  the  last  name  listed.  The  handwriting  is  very  good  and 
clerkly.12  In  1673,  in  tne  June  County  Court,  he  was 
appointed  a  grand  jury  man  for  Norwich,  and  received  a 
similar  appointment  at  the  June  County  Court  in  1686  and 
1687.  In  1674  he  served  on  the  petty  jury  in  the  June  County 

10  Caulkins,  History  of  Norwich,  66. 

11  Colonial  Records  of  Conn.,  1665-71,  32. 

12  State  Archives,    "Civil  Officers,"    11,2;    County  Court  Records, 
MSS.  in,  121,  523. 


1 2    Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings 

Court.  In  1675  he  was  chosen  (described  as  John  Baulding, 
Senior)  to  be  one  of  two  Surveyors  for  the  year  ensuing. 
His  son,  John,  born  in  Guilford,  became  of  age  December  5, 
1675,  and  was  thenceforward  known  as  John  Baldwin,  Jr. 
In  September,  1687,  at  the  September  County  Court,  "Mr 
John  Baldwin  Senr"  was  on  the  petty  jury.  On  December  30, 
1678,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  two  town  constables.  In 
1683  he  was  again  elected  one  of  the  two  townsmen.  In  1688 
he  made  his  will.  It  is  written  in  a  clear  and  plain  hand.13 
He  died  after  February  8,  1692,  when  he  made  a  conveyance, 
and  before  December  19,  1696,  as  a  deed  to  his  heirs  was  then 
executed,  referring  to  him  as  John  Baldwin,  yeoman, 
deceased. 

Thomas  Baldwin,  second  son  of  John  Baldwin,  Senior, 
was  born  in  June,  1662,  and  died  September  10,  1741.  He 
was  a  farmer  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Bozrah  and  village 
of  Fitchville,  and  is  styled  "yeoman"  in  several  deeds.  He 
married,  on  September  20,  1692,  Abigail  Lay  of  Lyme,  and 
their  third  son  was  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  the  father  of  Simeon 
Baldwin.  Ebenezer  Baldwin  was  born  April  20,  1710,  and 
married  Bethiah  Barker,  October  10,  1738.  At  that  time  he 
was  prosecuting  his  trade  as  a  blacksmith,  with  an  apprentice, 
in  Norwich. 

The  general  statutes  of  Connecticut  then  imposed  a  penalty 
of  five  shillings  for  those  who  should  on  the  Lord's  Day 
"prophane  the  time  by  Playing  or  Talking."  Magistrates 
were  enjoined  to  see  that  this  law  was  enforced  and  to 
restrain  all  persons  from  unnecessary  walking  on  the  streets 
or  following  their  "Secular  Occasions  or  Recreations  in  the 
Evening  preceeding  the  Lord's  Day,  or  any  part  of  the  said 
Day,  or  Evening  following."14  It  was  also  enacted,  in  I72I,15 

•3  It  is  in  the  possession  of  Simeon  E.  Baldwin  of  New  Haven. 

14  Revision  of  1715,  105,  106. 

15  Session  Laws,  page  261. 


Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings     1 3 

"that  whatsoever  person  shall  go  from  his  or  her  place  of 
abode  on  the  Lord's  Day,  unless  to  or  from  the  publick  Wor 
ship  of  God  attended  or  to  be  attended  upon  by  such  person 
in  some  place  by  Law  allowed  for  that  end,  or  unless  it  be 
on  some  other  work  necessary  then  to  be  done,  and  be  thereof 
convicted  as  aforesaid  shall  incur  the  penalty  of  Five 
Shillings  Money  for  every  such  offence." 

A  few  months  before  his  marriage,  a  charge  was  brought 
against  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  together  with  Thomas  Avery, 
Abiall  Marshall  and  David  Bingham,  under  these  statutes, 
described  in  the  complaint  as  single  men,  and  boarders  or 
sojourners  in  the  town,  that  they 

"did  convean  and  meet  in  company  with  sundry  others,  att 
y€  house  of  William  Waterman,  ye  4^  day  of  June  last,  it 
being  Sabbath  evening." 

Ebenezer  Baldwin  filed  this  plea : 

"True  it  is,  we  did  converse  with  the  company,  and  att  ye 
time  and  place  sett  forth  in  ye  complaint,  but  he  saith  he  is  not 
guilty  for  these  reasons :  Ist,  That  he  is  not  a  single  person, 
as  having  an  apprentice  by  indenture ;  2nd,  he  is  not  a  boarder, 
having  ye  care  of  a  family;  3r(Uy,  he  is  not  a  sojourner,  as  liv 
ing  in  ye  place  where  he  was  born  and  bred." 

The  judgment  was 

'The  Court  is  of  opinion  he  is  guilty,  and  fines  him  5".  and 
costs.  Appeal  granted,  to  be  heard  in  ye  County  Court."10 

In  1751  Ebenezer  Baldwin  was  a  selectman  of  Norwich; 
in  1755  an  ensign  in  the  Norwich  train-band;  in  1757  one 
of  Captain  John  Perkins'  company  that  marched  to  the  relief 
of  Fort  William  Henry;17  and  in  1762  Captain  of  the  eleventh 

16  Caulkins,  History  of  Norwich,  2d  ed.,  page  279. 

17  Connecticut  Historical  Society  Collections,  IX,  236. 


14    Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings 

company  in  the  third  regiment  of  the  Colony  militia.18  The 
title  of  Captain  clung  to  him  through  life. 

He  was  an  enterprising  man,  of  a  rather  wide  outlook  on 
affairs.  Connecticut's  claims  as  to  her  Western  boundary 
interested  him  deeply.  In  1754  he  bought  a  share  in  the 
Susquehanna  Land  Purchase,  and  in  1773  half  of  another 
share.  In  1770  he  was  one  of  the  Managing  Committee  of 
the  Proprietors.19  He  was  also  a  shareholder  in  the  Dela 
ware  and  Lackawanna  purchase,  and  was  active  in  the 
management  of  its  affairs  in  Connecticut,  traveling  about  the 
State  as  one  of  its  business  agents. 

The  house  in  Norwich  where  he  lived  is  still  standing,  in 
Bean  Hill.20  A  photogravure  of  it  fronts  this  page.  In 
January,  1778,  he  conveyed  it,  comprising  half  an  acre,  and 
also  twenty  acres  lying  across  the  river,  to  his  son-in-law, 
Jacob  Witter,  for  £571.  Mr.  Witter  afterwards  used  it  as  a 
tavern. 

From  this  time  on  Captain  Ebenezer  Baldwin  lived  on  a 
farm  a  mile  or  two  from  Bean  Hill  in  that  part  of  Norwich 
known  as  Bozrah,  and  now  as  Fitchville.  His  son  Oliver, 
who  had  a  family  of  young  children,  came  to  live  with  him 
early  in  1780.  Oliver  also  followed  the  blacksmith's  trade. 
His  sister  Bethiah  writes  Simeon  in  February  of  that  year 
that  this  arrangement  has  been  made  and  she  is  sure,  in  view 
of  it,  that  he  will  not  want  to  live  at  home  after  graduation 
from  college. 

Captain  Baldwin  was  much  respected  for  his  sound  judg 
ment.  When,  in  1779,  it  was  determined  that  a  new  bridge 
should  be  built  between  Norwich  and  Preston,  the  towns 
failed  to  agree  on  the  site.  It  was  thereupon,  in  1780  (to 
quote  the  historian  of  Norwich), 

18  Colonial  Records  of  Connecticut,  1762-7,  page  84. 

19  Conn.  Courant  for  October  5,  1770. 

20  It  is  one  owned  by  Elizabeth  T.  Sherman. 


Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings    1 5 

"referred  to  three  well-known  citizens,  mutually  respected 
and  honored  by  the  towns,  viz.,  Hon.  Benjamin  Huntington, 
Capt.  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  and  Elijah  Lathrop,  Esq.,  who 
reported  that  in  their  opinion  the  best  and  only  convenient 
place  for  a  bridge  was  where  the  late  one  stood,  that  is,  below 
the  ferry  and  near  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Whereupon  it 
was  ordered  that  the  bridge  should  be  forthwith  erected  at 
that  place/' 

Not  long  afterwards  the  feeling  became  general  that  the 
town  had  grown  too  large  and  should  be  divided  into  several. 
To  determine  how  this  could  best  be  arranged  a  "General 
Committee"  was  appointed  by  the  town,  to  confer  with  com 
mittees  of  the  various  ecclesiastical  Societies  and  to  report 
their  recommendations.  It  consisted  of  Capt.  Ebenezer 
Baldwin,  Deacon  Joseph  Bushnell,  Samuel  Leffingwell,  and 
Capt.  Andrew  Perkins.  They  decided  that  a  division  should 
be  made  into  four  towns,  and  the  General  Assembly  con 
firmed  this  conclusion  in  1786,  when  the  new  towns  of  Lisbon, 
Franklin,  and  Bozrah  were  incorporated,  the  residue  of  the 
old  town  being  left  to  bear  the  name  of  Norwich.21 

In  1776  Capt.  Baldwin  was  named  as  the  executor  of  the 
will  of  his  son  Ebenezer,  which  made  Simeon  his  residuary 
legatee  and  devisee.  The  bulk  of  what  was  thus  left  to  him 
was  invested,  in  1777,  in  a  note  or  loan  certificate  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut  for  $400.  The  interest  on  this  was  paid 
for  four  years  in  bills  drawn  on  our  representatives  in 
France,  which  were  sold  at  a  discount,  in  order  to  meet  the 
local  taxes  on  the  loan.  The  discount  and  taxes  together, 
after  adding  the  accumulations  during  Simeon's  minority, 
brought  the  fund  down  to  £332,  io/  6d  in  "lawful  money," 
when,  in  the  Spring  of  1783,  Simeon,  having  come  of  age, 
received  it  from  his  father.  "Lawful  money"  was  then  a 

21  Caulkins,  Hist,  of  Norwich,  348,  428. 


1 6    Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings 

much  depreciated  paper  currency,  and  the  whole  fund  prob 
ably  amounted  to  less  than  100  pounds  in  hard  money.22 

In  1783,  Captain  Baldwin  became  blind  and  so  remained 
for  the  rest  of  his  life.  A  similar  misfortune  had  befallen  his 
father,  at  about  the  same  age. 

He  left  an  estate  of  £616.  The  inventory,  dated  June  26, 
1792,  comprised,  among  other  things,  a  "castor  hat,  I2/; 
gold  sleeve  buttons,  2O/;  Edwards  on  the  Affections,  3/; 
a  desk,  I5/;  a  stand  table,  9/5  5  silver  table-spoons,  40/5 
six  silver  tea  spoons,  I2/;  one  yoke  of  oxen;  one  steer;  two 
cows ;  one  heifer ;  one  mare ;  one  colt ;  eleven  sheep ;  a  vice 
and  hammer ;  and  real  estate  to  the  value  of  about  £500.  He 
owned  one  slave. 

His  will,  made  May  28,  1787,  left  to  his  son  Oliver,  among 
other  items,  his  blacksmith's  tools  and  his  interest  in  the 
Delaware  and  Lackawanna  purchase,  with  remainder  to 
Oliver's  male  heirs.  To  Simeon  he  left  his  interest  in  the 
Susquehanna  purchase,  and  two-sevenths  of  his  residuary 
estate.  One  clause  provides  that  "if  Bristol,  my  negro  boy, 
shall  serve  my  heirs  faithfully  untill  he  shall  arrive  to  the  age 
of  twenty  five  years,  he  shall  be  set  free  and  a  new  bible 
given  him."23  The  copy  of  Edwards  on  the  Affections  he 
had  taken  as  part  of  his  share  under  the  will  of  his  eldest 
son,  of  whose  library  it  had  formed  a  part. 

Captain  Baldwin's  monument  in  the  Norwich  cemetery 
bears  this  inscription : 

"In  memory  of  /  Capt.  Ebenezer  Baldwin  /  who  departed 
this  life  May  2  /  1792  in  the  82nd  year  of  his  age  /  He  was 
a  reputable  citizen  /  a  kind  husband,  a  tender  parent  /  an 
amiable  &  cheerful  neighbor  /  and  a  good  man.  Supported 

22  See  Bronson,  Papers  of  the  New  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society, 
I,  104,  120,  121,  129,  159;   Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  299,  541. 

23  Norwich  Probate  Records,  VIII,  465. 


Parentage,  Boyhood,  and  Early  Family  Surroundings    1 7 

by  a  cheerful  fortitude  /  he  bore  with  singular  philosophy  / 
the  peculiar  calamities  of  his  life  /  during  9  years  of  blind 
ness  and  infirmity  /  and  the  extreme  pains  of  /  his  last  linger 
ing  illness  /  in  the  sure  hope  of  a  long-wished  for  /  eternity 
of  happiness." 

Miss  Caulkins,  the  historian  of  Norwich,  wrote  in  1845, 
that  she  had  often  heard  aged  people  in  the  town  speak  of 
Capt.  Baldwin  in  terms  that  convinced  her  that  this  epitaph 
(written  no  doubt  by  Simeon  Baldwin)  contained  but  the 
simple  truth  in  regard  to  his  character. 


CHAPTER  II 
LIFE  AT  YALE,  AS  AN  UNDERGRADUATE 

Simeon  Baldwin  entered  Yale  College  in  September,  1777, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen.  It  was  then  in  a  confused  and  feeble 
state.  For  eleven  years  it  had  had  only  an  acting  President, 
and  he  had  resigned  six  months  before,  after  the  presenta 
tion  to  the  College  corporation  of  a  petition  from  many  of 
the  students,  asking  for  his  removal.  His  predecessor, 
President  Clap,  had  had  a  similar  fate.  His  successor  had 
not  yet  been  chosen. 

The  Revolutionary  war  was  in  active  progress.  Since  it 
opened,  the  ordinary  sessions  of  the  College  had  not  been 
kept  with  any  regularity. 

The  government  of  the  State  and  the  government  of  the 
College  were  not  agreed  as  to  the  general  policy  which  the 
latter  should  pursue,  and  financial  aid  from  the  public 
treasury  could  not  be  expected  until  harmony  was  restored. 

The  Freshmen  began  their  college  work  in  1777,  not  at 
New  Haven,  but  in  Glastonbury,  where  the  faculty  was 
represented  by  Professor  Strong  and  one  tutor,  Abraham 
Baldwin.  He  was  a  distant  cousin  of  Simeon  Baldwin. 

The  youngest  member  of  the  class  was  but  fourteen  years 
old.  Three  were  men  of  twenty.  Four  had  reached  the  age 
of  nineteen,  and  five  that  of  eighteen.1 

The  college  customs  and  rules  existing  at  this  time  were 
largely  inheritances  from  a  remote  antiquity.  The  Freshmen 
were  the  fags  of  the  upper  class  men.  All  were  bound  to 
show  the  utmost  respect  to  their  college  superiors.  The 

1  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  226. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  1 9 

Freshmen  rose  at  prayers  when  the  tutors  were  taking  or 
leaving  their  places.2 

Class  competitions  were  recognized,  however,  so  far  as  to 
wink  at  snowball  fights  between  two  classes,  on  formal 
challenges.3 

Students  were  to  take  off  their  hats  when  they  approached 
on  the  campus  within  a  specified  distance  of  any  member 
of  the  faculty.  One  Winter  day  President  Stiles  slipped  on 
the  ice  as  he  was  walking  across  the  campus,  and  fell.  A 
student  rushed  to  his  assistance,  and  restored  his  hat  and 
cane,  which  had  fallen  on  the  ground.  In  the  hurry  of  the 
moment  he  forgot  to  doff  his  own  hat,  and  for  this  offence 
against  college  rules  he  was  fined.4 

Freshmen  must  go  bareheaded,  when  in  the  "college 
yard,"  until  after  the  May  vacation,  and  could  not  carry 
canes  until  the  evening  before  Commencement.5  Commence 
ment  was  also  the  date  when  Seniors  could  put  on  a  triangular 
cocked  hat,  such  as  was  commonly  worn  by  the  faculty.6 

Seniors  had  normally  but  one  recitation  a  day.  The  other 
classes  had  two  or  three.7 

President  Stiles  began  his  administration  with  requiring 
all  the  Freshmen  in  the  future  to  study  Hebrew.  It  proved 
distasteful  to  many,  and  he  made  it  an  elective  study  in  1790. 
It  was  such  when  Mr.  Baldwin  entered  college  and  he  was 
one  of  four  Freshmen  who  took  it  under  the  President  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  1777-1778.  The  whole  class 
numbered  twenty-one.8 

2  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  244. 
8  Ibid.,  247. 

4  Biographical  Memoranda,  Class  of  1832,  appendix,  21. 

5  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  299. 

6  Silliman,  Address  before  the  Yale  Alumni  Association,  1842,  32,  33. 
1  Yale  Book,  II,  44,  45  ;  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  475,  515 ;  III,  397. 
8  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  397. 


20  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

In  February,  1848,  Simeon  Baldwin,  then  an  old  man  of 
eighty-seven,  wrote  a  letter  to  a  son  of  Chancellor  Kent, 
for  use  in  compiling  a  biography  of  James  Kent.  We  quote 
the  greater  part  of  it,  as  giving  a  graphic  picture  of  the 
College  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  when  Baldwin  and 
Kent  were  classmates  there;  and  of  their  early  intimacy.9 

"I  was  introduced  to  James  Kent  on  the  first  Monday  in 
May,  1773,  at  Danbury.  He  had  that  day  come  to  town,  to 
go  to  school  to  my  brother,  the  Rev'd  Mr.  Baldwin,  the  clergy 
man  of  the  parish,  who  had  opened  a  school  for  a  few  boys, 
to  fit  them  for  college.  Danbury  was  then  quite  an  isolated 
country  town.  .  .  . 

He  continued  in  that  school  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Baldwin 
on  the  5th  of  October,  1776. 

We  were  then  separated  one  year,  and  met  as  freshmen 
of  Yale  College  in  1777.  Our  class  was  small,  consisting 
of  young  men  grown  up,  most  of  them  much  older  than  cither 
of  us.  He,  I  think,  was  the  youngest  in  the  class,  but  was 
better  fitted  for  his  standing  than  most  of  them.  While  we 
were  members  of  college  the  students  were  often  dispersed 
and  their  studies  interrupted  in  consequence  of  the  war,  but 
he  still  kept  his  standing  in  the  class,  and,  to  say  the  least, 
in  all  the  classical  studies,  he  ranked  among  the  best.  In 
history,  in  the  belles-lettres  studies,  and  in  reading  generally, 
he  excelled  them  all.  His  attention  to  what  he  read  was 
strict,  and  his  memory  was  uncommonly  retentive.  It  was 
the  common  remark  of  his  companions  that  they  could 
generally  tell  the  author  he  last  read,  by  the  style  and  matter 
of  his  next  composition. 

He  wrote  his  compositions  with  great  care,  and  in  a  pleas 
ing,  flowing  style.  But  the  rapid  flow  of  his  ideas  often 
embarrassed  him  in  public  speaking,  whether  extempore  or 
memoriter.  When  preparing  for  public  speaking,  he  has 
often  requested  me  to  hear  him  rehearse,  and,  by  signal,  to 
check  him  when  speaking  too  rapidly,  as  he  generally  would, 
without  knowing  it,  when  he  felt  the  spirit  of  the  subject. 

9  Memoirs  and  Letters  of  Chancellor  Kent,  9-14. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  2 1 

On  these  occasions,  when  often  checked,  I  have  known  him 
to  sit  down  and  weep;  but  he  would  try  again  and  again, 
and  by  repeated  trials,  did  learn,  in  a  great  measure,  to 
regulate  the  rapidity  of  his  speech,  which,  without  attention, 
would,  at  times,  be  unintelligible. 

He  left  college  universally  beloved  by  his  class  and  ranked 
as  a  scholar  among  the  first.  During  President  Stiles' 
administration,  the  Bachelors  had  a  public  exhibition  con 
nected  with  the  examination  for  their  degrees  in  July.  Their 
cliosophic  and  valedictory  orations  were  then  pronounced, 
and  the  class  dismissed  till  Commencement,  when  the  Bache 
lors  occupied  the  forenoon,  and  the  valedictory  by  the 
Masters  closed  the  exercises  of  the  day.  From  the  year  1798 
the  valedictory  of  the  Bachelors  has  been  transferred  to 
Commencement,  and  the  Masters  do  not  now  take  part  in  the 
exercises  of  Commencement.  I  find  by  President  Stiles' 
diary  that  at  the  July  examination  of  our  class,  Kent  had 
the  most  honorable  appointment ;  namely,  the  cliosophic  ora 
tion,  for  which,  from  his  extensive  reading,  he  was  the  best 
qualified  of  any  in  the  class.  Gridley  had  the  valedictory  in 
Latin.  There  was  also  a  dispute  and  a  dialogue.  At  Com 
mencement,  Baldwin  had  the  salutatory  oration  in  Latin; 
Perkins,  oration  in  Greek  on  Greek  Literature;  Hinckley, 
oration  in  English.  There  was  a  dispute  on  the  question 
whether  the  modern  surpasses  the  ancient  literature,  in  which 
Gridley  and  Kent  maintained  the  affirmative,  and  Channing 
and  Stebbins  the  negative.  These,  with  sundry  syllogistic 
disputes,  occupied  the  forenoon.  In  the  afternoon  the  Mas 
ters  exhibited  a  poem  by  Barlow,  orations  by  Webster  and 
Wolcott,  and  the  valedictory  by  Tutor  Meigs. 

\Yhen  we  took  our  degree  as  Masters  (in  1784),  Kent 
was  appointed  to  deliver  an  oration.  He  accepted  the 
appointment,  but  was  prevented  from  attending,  and  sent  an 
apology  to  the  President.  Baldwin  also  delivered  an  oration 
in  English,  and  Channing  delivered  the  valedictory.  No 
others  of  the  class  took  part  in  the  exercises.  It  will  be 
remembered  we  were  in  college  during  part  of  the  Revolu 
tionary  War,  and  all  the  classes  were  for  a  time  convened 
for  safety  in  separate  country  towns,  in  the  centre  of  the 


22  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

State.  James  Kent  and  myself  joined  the  class  in  Glaston- 
bury,  under  the  care  of  Professor  Strong  as  tutor,  and  con 
tinued  together  until  the  January  vacation;  were  then 
dismissed,  and  not  called  together  again  until  June  of  the 
next  year.  We  then  met  at  New  Haven  and  Doctor  Stiles 
was  inaugurated  President.  Mr.  Atwater  was  appointed 
tutor  of  our  class, — a  meek,  modest,  unassuming  man,  a  good 
scholar  in  the  languages  taught,  a  preacher  by  profession, 
not  much  of  an  orator  or  belles-lettres  scholar,  but  peculiarly 
affectionate,  kind,  and  conscientiously  devoted  to  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  official  duties.  We  continued  under  his 
faithful  care  and  instruction  till  we  became  seniors.  The 
President  then  became  our  instructor. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  1779,  the  British  troops  took  possession 
of  New  Haven,  and  the  students  were  again  scattered.  They 
were  not  called  to  return  till  the  end  of  the  fall  vacation, 
about  ist  of  November  following.  The  winter  of  1779-80 
was  severe,  and  the  quantity  of  snow  from  successive  and 
continued  storms  was  seldom,  if  ever,  equalled;  in  conse 
quence  of  which  the  steward  of  college  informed  the  Presi 
dent  that  he  could  no  longer  furnish  commons  for  the 
students.  College  was  of  course  dismissed,  a  fortnight 
before  the  usual  January  vacation,  and  did  not  convene  again 
until  the  next  summer.  Our  class  were  then  juniors.  From 
that  time  we  pursued  our  studies  without  further  interrup 
tion  ;  but  it  will  be  perceived  that  a  large  portion  of  valuable 
term  time  was  lost  by  those  various  interruptions ;  and  when 
together,  our  means  of  instruction  and  of  obtaining  informa 
tion  were  very  much  limited, — the  college  library  then  con 
sisting  of  little  more  than  three  thousand  volumes,  most  of 
them  valuable  for  their  antiquity  and  much  of  the  time  kept 
out  of  the  town  for  safety;  and  the  Society  libraries,  the 
Linonian  and  the  Brothers',  then  consisted  of  about  one  hun 
dred  and  sixty  volumes  each, — now  over  nine  thousand 
volumes.  The  faculty  of  college  then  consisted  of  the  Presi 
dent,  one  professor,  and  three  tutors, — a  very  limited  estab 
lishment  compared  with  what  it  is  now.  The  classical  studies 
were  proportionately  limited. 

The  only  Latin  authors  then  studied  classically  were  Virgil, 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  23 

Cicero's  Orations  and  his  treatise  on  oratory,  and  some  parts 
of  Horace.  The  Greek  Testament  was  the  only  book  read 
in  that  language.  The  Hebrew  language  was  taught  by  the 
President,  to  the  very  few  who  volunteered.  A  few, — gen 
erally  two  or  three  in  each  class, — to  qualify  themselves  for 
the  Dean's  Bounty,  so  called,  made  themselves  acquainted 
with  Homer  and  Xenophon  and  a  few  other  classical  books ; 
but  this  was  optional.  Perkins  and  Channing  were  the  Dean 
scholars  in  our  class.  It  was  then  the  duty  of  the  tutors  to 
give  all  the  instruction  which  the  pupils  received  during  the 
first  three  years,  not  only  in  the  languages,  in  mathematics, 
natural  philosophy,  and  astronomy,  but  in  grammar,  rhetoric, 
logic,  composition,  oratory,  history,  geography,  and  the  belles- 
lettres  generally.  Chemistry,  mineralogy,  and  geology  were 
then  little  known  and  not  studied ;  and  no  stated  lectures  were 
then  delivered  on  any  literary  subjects." 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  Freshmen  entering  in  1777  saw 
nothing  of  New  Haven  and  little  of  College  during  most  of 
their  first  year.10  Professor  Daggett  had  resigned  the  Presi 
dency  in  the  preceding  Spring  and  he  had  never,  as  Professor 
of  Divinity,  been  accustomed  to  give  any  instruction  except 
in  the  shape  of  his  weekly  sermons  in  the  College  chapel. 
Mr.  Dwight  had  resigned  his  place  as  Senior  Tutor.  There 
was  no  active  head  of  the  institution.  The  students,  in  the 
Fall  of  1777,  were  divided  into  three  squads,  each  meeting 
at  a  different  place.  The  Junior  and  Freshman  classes  were 
together  at  Glastonbury  under  Professor  Strong  and  Tutor 
Baldwin;  the  Sophomores  were  under  another  Tutor  at 
Farmington,  and  the  Seniors  only  were  at  New  Haven,  with 
Tutor  Buckminster. 

During  the  six  years  that  Mr.  Dwight  had  been  a  Tutor, 
he  had  done  much  to  give  fresh  life  and  better  form  to  the 
course  of  instruction.  He  led  in  a  movement  to  broaden  and 

10  Dexter,  Yale  Biographies  and  Annals,  3d  Series,  642 ;  Woolsey, 
Historical  Discourse  of  1850  on  Yale  College,  31. 


24  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

enrich  it  by  bringing  in  new  subjects  and  new  methods  of 
study.  Belles-lettres  now  received  something  approaching 
their  due  share  of  attention.11 

One  unfortunate  effect  was  that  the  greater  cultivation  of 
general  literature  made  many  of  the  students  give  to  that 
more  time  than  comported  with  the  requirements  as  to  classics 
and  mathematics.  Not  a  few  of  the  older  alumni  feared 
that,  as  the  result  of  these  changes,  the  serious  spirit  of  study 
had  declined.  One  of  them  told  Dr.  Stiles  that  the  College 
needed  regulation,  for  the  students  had  "left  the  more  solid 
parts  of  Learn8  &  run  into  Plays  &  Dramatic  Exhibition? 
chiefly  of  the  comic  kind,  &  turned  College  into  Drury 
Lane."12 

There  were  two  rival  secret  societies  in  the  College  at  this 
time:  the  Linonian  and  the  Brothers  in  Unity.  Both  had 
been  founded  primarily  to  cultivate  the  art  of  public  speak 
ing.  Both  had  also  engaged  in  private  theatricals.  Each 
had  its  anniversary  celebration,  when  plays  were  acted. 
Attendance  at  these  was  originally  confined  to  the  members 
of  the  society.  While  Mr.  Baldwin  was  a  student,  it  was 
becoming  customary  to  invite  outsiders,  both  gentlemen  and 
ladies,  to  witness  these  entertainments.13 

Mr.  Baldwin  joined  the  Brothers  in  Unity,  became  its 
librarian,  and  took  an  active  part  in  its  proceedings. 

The  debates  were  often  on  the  questions  of  the  day.  Some 
were  opened  on  each  side  with  a  formal  presentation  of  the 
subject,  called  a  "disputation."  Mr.  Baldwin  prepared  a 
number  of  brief  papers  of  that  nature. 

The  languages  at  this  time  had,  of  course,  much  more  rela- 

11  The  Yale  Book,  I,  99;    Life  of  Timothy  Dwight,  prefixed  to  his 
Theology,  I,  xi. 

12  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  230. 

13  Ibid.,  Ill,  14. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  25 

tive  importance  as  subjects  of  study,  than  now.  The  fields  of 
natural  science  were  only  beginning  to  open.  Commerce  also 
with  foreign  countries  was  conducted  by  methods  which 
rendered  some  acquaintance  with  the  speech  of  the  ports 
visited  particularly  important. 

One  of  the  letters  received  by  Mr.  Baldwin,  after  gradua 
tion,  from  college  friends,  was  in  Latin  (not  wholly  of  the 
best)  sent  by  St.  John  Honey  wood,  of  the  Class  of  1782,  and 
addressed  as  to  an  associate  in  the  Brothers  in  Unity  and 
Phi  Beta  Kappa. 

In  the  earlier  part  of  that  century  the  college  rules  required 
all  conversation  between  students  to  be  in  Latin,14  and  public 
disputations  were  conducted  in  the  same  language.  This  was 
no  longer  so  when  the  Class  of  1781  entered  college,  but 
"Latin  prose"  was  still  much  more  the  subject  of  study  than 
it  became  in  the  nineteenth  century. 

Language  for  some  years,  under  the  influence  of  Dwight 
and  Trumbull,15  had  been  studied  to  get  what  it  was  worth 
for  inspiring  and  interpreting  literature,  more  than  as  a 
means  of  learning  grammar.  Sharp  criticism  had  been 
necessary,  and  criticism  not  always  just.  The  testing  in 
practice  of  the  new  education  had  now  been  accomplished. 
Confessedly  its  advocates  had  proved  their  case.  It  had  been 
done  also  without  exciting  as  much  bitterness  of  feeling  on 
the  part  of  those  trained  in  the  old  ways,  as  might  well  have 
been  anticipated.  They  were  ready  to  listen,  and  to  try 
experiments.  Here,  what  was,  down  to  1778,  the  flabby  and 
disorganized  condition  of  the  College  when  Dwight  opened 
his  campaign,  had  one  good  effect.  There  was  no  real  head 
of  affairs  to  be  the  subject  of  attack.  Consequently  criti- 

14  The  Yale  Book,  II,  496. 

irj  John  Trumbull  (Yale,  Class  of  1767)  ;  tutor  at  Yale  from  1771 
to  1773- 


26  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

cism  was  directed  to  methods,  not  men.  Being  impersonal, 
it  was  not  calculated  to  provoke  resentment.  Trumbull  pub 
lished  the  first  part  of  his  "Progress  of  Dullness/'  a  satire 
on  the  College  student  of  the  day,  in  1772,  and  the  whole  in 
1773,  both  while  a  tutor,  and  that  he  stood  none  the  worse 
for  it  in  College  circles  is  clear  from  his  election,  in  1776, 
as  Treasurer,  an  important  trust,  in  succession  to  Roger 
Sherman.  Yet  in  the  preface  to  this  poem,  dated  in  August, 
1772,  he  had  said  that  "except  in  one  neighboring  province, 
ignorance  wanders  unmolested  at  our  colleges,  examinations 
are  dwindled  to  mere  form  and  ceremony,  and  after  four 
years  dozing  there,  no  one  is  ever  refused  the  honors  of  a 
degree,  on  account  of  dulness  and  insufficiency."  The 
excepted  institution  here  was  undoubtedly  Harvard. 

The  Commencement  of  the  College  in  1777  was  held  as 
usual,  so  far  as  the  granting  of  degrees  was  concerned,  on 
September  10,  at  New  Haven.  Rev.  Dr.  Ezra  Stiles  of  New 
port  was  then  elected  President,  and  after  some  months  of 
hesitation  took  office  during  the  next  year.  He  had  been 
looking  forward  to  his  new  work  with  decided  misgivings. 
He  wrote  in  his  diary  on  September  19,  1777, 

"An  hundred  &  fifty  or  180  Young  Gentlemen  Students  is 
a  Bundle  of  Wild  Fire  not  easily  controlled  &  governed — and 
at  best  the  Diadem  of  a  President  is  a  Crown  of  Thorns."1 

A  few  days  later  he  observes  that  while  for  several  years 
Yale  had  had  more  students  than  any  other  American  college, 
the  graduating  class  this  year,  composed  of  forty,  had  been 
replaced  by  a  Freshman  class  thus  far  of  but  a  dozen  or 
fifteen.17  In  a  few  weeks,  however,  the  Freshman  class  num 
bered  twenty,  and  the  class  finally  was  one  of  about  thirty. 

16  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  209. 

17  Ibid.,  209,  213. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  2  7 

The  total  number  of  students  was  a  hundred  and  twenty-five, 
while  Harvard  had  but  a  hundred  and  eleven. 

The  students  could  not  fail  to  be  impressed  with  the  acces 
sion  to  the  Presidency  of  so  learned  a  man  as  Dr.  Stiles  and 
the  ceremonies  attending  his  inauguration,  which  took  place 
July  8,  1778.  The  delivery  of  a  Latin  oration  by  him  was  a 
part  of  these,  in  which  he  expressed  the  hope  that  all  would 
strive  to  make  their  University  shine  with  splendor  among 
the  other  American  academies,  as  the  moon  among  the  lesser 
lights,  "Luces  in  Luna  minores."18 

The  months  that  followed  were  full  of  dark  days  for  the 
college  and  for  young  Baldwin.  He  spent  them  at  Norwich, 
except  a  few  weeks  occupied  in  further  study  at  the  Tisdale 
School  in  Lebanon.  He  felt  it  to  be  a  serious  question 
whether  he  ought  to  persist  in  his  attempt  to  secure  a  liberal 
education.  An  undated  draft  of  a  letter  to  an  unnamed 
friend  (not  improbably  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Backus  of  Somers), 
seeking  advice  as  to  this,  and  as  to  his  general  plans  for  life, 
was  apparently  written  at  this  period: 

DrSr 

When  cast  down  in  solitude;  dejected  through  Despair; 
&  crazy  with  Reflection :  what  sweeter  Cordial  can  be  given 
to  the  troubled  Soul,  than  an  agreeable,  a  constant,  &  an 
approved  Friend. 

Sufficient  encomiums  have  already  been  heap'd  on  friend 
ship  and  it  is  impossible  to  bestow  greater  than  the  deserts  so 
I  leave  her  praises  for  the  present,  since  my  mind  chuses  to 
speak  of  things  more  immediately  reflecting  herself.  Did 
you  think  that  the  once  happy  Sim  would  be  so  soon  affected 
with  the  above  mentioned  disagreeable  Diseases  (if  I  may 
so  call  them?)  I  cant  think  you  did  but  I  can  assure  you 
he  is.  his  case  perhaps  is  worse  than  you  may  at  first 
imagine ;  he  is  you  know  a  member  of  College  which  at  any 

™Ibid.,  II,  281. 


28  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

time  requires  a  considerable  Fund  of  money  to  support  a 
person  even  with  the  greatest  frugality  &  more  especially 
at  the  present;  in  this  respect  you  know  his  misfortunes, 
first  (thro  the  depression  of  our  money)  he  is  balk'd  of  the 
happy  prospect  which  kind  Heaven  was  pleased  to  afford  him 
by  the  hand  of  an  Indulgent  Deceased  Brother  in  the  next 
place  his  second  recource  must  be  to  an  aged  Father  already 
worn  out  with  the  toils  of  Life:  from  such  an  one  we  cant 
expect  all  the  assistance  we  need  especially  if  he  is  not  sup 
ported  by  a  larger  Estate  than  his  father  has  at  present. 
Shall  I  mention  a  third  resourse  which  some  may  have  (i.  e.) 
a  Brother  here  my  pen  chuses  to  stop  before  it  begins, 
this  is  my  Despair  .... 

College  is  now  broken  up  &  I  at  home  in  that  solitary  place 
Yantic,  yet  I  should  not  call  it  solitude,  could  I  improve  my 
time  (like  the  Antient  Poets  when  in  their  retirements)  in 
agreeable  Studies  &  diverting  Amusements.  I  would  not 
however  have  you  think  me  Idle,  for  tho'  one  and  the  same  to 
a  Scholar,  I  have  kept  myself  at  work  almost  all  Summer 
except  for  a  few  weeks  at  Sc(h)ool  in  Lebanon  nor  was  my 
solitude  much  less  there,  not  having  one  Classmate  or  agree 
able  Friend  with  whom  I  might  converse.  When  a  person 
is  in  this  condition  we  may  readily  conclude  there  is  some 
grounds  for  reflection  on  his  unhappy  Case  &  enquire  what 
shall  be  done  £  Ist  Shall  I  entirely  lay  aside  all  hopes  of 
furthering  myself  in  the  pleasing  path  of  litterature?  this 
is  a  disagreeable  thought  -  -  but  if  I  should,  what  should  I 
do  next  -  -  must  I  without  further  ceremony  become  a  rusty 
farmer?  this  was  ever  my  aversion.  •  Shall  I  go  to 
keeping  school?  this  is  no  business  for  life,  nor  would  the 
same  prospect  arise  from  it,  of  finding  business  as  there 
would  be^  had  I  finished  the  Collegiate  part  of  my  Educa 
tion  -  Shall  I  go  into  the  Army  and  try  that  for  a  liveli 
hood  ?  Surely  no,  not  under  the  present  encouragements.  - 
perhaps  you  will  advise  me  to  try  my  luck  on  the  Seas  & 
become  a  privateersman  •  I  confess  this  best  suits  my 
inclination  but  there  is  the  difficulty  of  procuring  a  birth  in 
the  way  -  -  well  you  may  try  merchandizing,  since  the  mer 
chant  is  quick  to  make  an  estate  -  -  but  this  requires  present 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  29 

money  as  well  as  my  present  employment ;  &  if  you  propose 
the  use  of  physic  the  same  answer  may  be  given  -  &  in 
short  I  can  almost  say  with  Cato  "I'm  weary  of  Conjectures ; 
Death  must  end  them."  but  I  believe  you  are  weary  of  hear 
ing  my  Complaints  &  perhaps  you  do  not  think  them  so  great 
as  I  do,  but  no  heavyer  than  they  are  when  joined  to  a  mind 
hardly  able  to  support  it,  the  consequence  must  be  bad  -  I 
will  not  trouble  you  longer  but  simply  beg  the  best  of  your 
advice  in  my  present  Case  &  you  may  be  assured  I  remain 
most  affectionately  Your  - 

The  brief  allusion  to  the  possibility  of  his  engaging  in  the 
military  service  indicates  very  clearly  that  he  had  no  bent 
that  way.  Voluntary  enlistments  were  then  few.  The  State 
militia  was  liable  to  be  called  out  for  service,  whether  in  or 
out  of  the  State.  If  so  called  out,  each  man  who  voluntarily 
enlisted  for  four  months  received  a  State  bounty  besides 
the  same  allowance  for  wages  and  rations  as  the  Continental 
troops.19  From  May,  1777,  to  April,  1779,  any  two  men, 
not  of  the  Continental  army,  who  procured  one  recruit  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war,  became  exempt  from  actual 
service  or  draft.20  In  other  words,  anyone  willing  to  pay 
enough  could  hire  a  "substitute."  In  May,  1780,  an  embargo 
was  laid  on  all  privateers,  because  serving  on  them  was  so 
often  preferred  to  enlistment  in  the  army.21 

The  following  extracts  from  a  letter  to  Simeon  Baldwin 
from  his  sister  Mary,  dated  August  19,  1780,  help  us  to  put 
ourselves  in  the  position  which  he  took. 

There  had  been  a  call  for  recruits  for  the  Continental  army, 
and  she  writes  to  him  thus: 

"I  come  in  the  next  place  to  give  you  A  List  of  the  Militia 
that  are  gone  from  Bozrah  John  Threyh  is  the  only  white 

"Conn.  Stat,  1776,  455. 

20  Conn.  Stat.,  April,  1779,  515;  May,  1779,  523. 

21  Conn.  Stat.,  May,  1780,  550. 


30  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

man  that  I  can  think  of  but  perhaps  you  may  have  had  some 
acquaintance  with  old  Brister,  Pease,  &  Ammon  &  one  more 
Black  belonging  to  Mr  Cartwell  this  much  for  those  that 
are  gone  but  there  Is  a  number  that  now  stand  drafted  to 
(appear)  when  called  for  I  know  not  who  they  all  be." 

She  adds : 

"I  expect  to  send  this  by  Mr.  Avery  &  father  sends  some 
state  money  by  him  &  if  you  cant  put  it  of  (f)  there  so  well 
as  it  goes  here  you  had  best  bring  it  back.  It  goes  forty 
for  one  here.  Continental  dollars  at  a  penny  a  piece." 

"Old  Brister,"  then  sixty-three  years  old,22  was  probably 
the  father  of  the  negro  boy  named  Bristo  whom  Captain 
Ebenezer  Baldwin  owned  when  he  died,  and  by  his  will 
emancipated  conditionally.  The  younger  Bristo  was  taken 
by  Simeon  Baldwin  to  New  Haven  to  work  out  his  time  and 
was  employed  by  him  as  a  chore-boy. 

During  the  Revolutionary  war,  slaves  were  often  per 
mitted  to  enlist;  the  enlisting  officer  agreeing  to  reserve  a 
certain  part  of  their  pay  for  their  owner.  Such  an  agree 
ment  is  shown  in  the  following  paper,  executed  in  1777: 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  y1  I  Silas  Benham  of  the 
town  and  county  of  New  Haven  in  the  State  of  Connecticut 
am  holden  and  do  stand  firmly  bound  and  obliged  unto  Mr 
John  Pierpoint  of  sd  Town  in  the  Just  Sum  of  one  Hundred 
Pounds  Lawfull  money  payable  to  sd  Pierpoint  his  heirs  Ex" 
and  Adm"  -  unto  the  which  payment  well  and  truly  to  be 
made  and  done  I  bind  my  Self  and  my  heirs  Ex™  and  admin™ 
firmly  by  these  presents  Signed  with  my  hand  &  Sealed 
with  my  Seal  Dated  in  New  Haven  June  28  1777  - 

The  Condition  of  the  above  Obligation  is  Such  that 
whereas  Sd  Benham  is  a  Lieu1"  in  the  army  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  (&  hath  this  Day  by  the  Consent  and 

22  See  ante,  pp.  7,  16. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  3 1 

approbation  of  sd  Pierpoint)  inlisted  into  the  sd  army  Peter 
Johnson  a  negro  Servant  belonging  to  sd  Pierpoint,  to  Serve 
during  the  war,  and  it  being  the  agreement  between  sd  Ben- 
ham  &  Pierpoint,  that  the  Sum  of  fifteen  pounds  Lawfull 
money,  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  wages  of  sd  Peter  Annually, 
to  sd  Pierpoint  his  heirs,  Ex™  or  admin"  during  the  time  he 
Continues  in  the  Service  —  Now  if  sd  Benham  do  stop  out 
of  the  wage  of  sd  Peter  the  Sum  of  fifteen  pounds  Lawfull 
money  annually,  and  the  Same  pay  unto  sd  Pierpoint  during 
sd  service  then  the  above  bond  to  be  void  -  -  if  otherwise  to 
remain  in  full  force  &  value  — 

Signed  Sealed  &  DelTd 

in  presence  of 
Evelyn  Pierpoint 
Israel  Granis 

Silas  Benham  Leu*"     (Seal) 

At  this  time  Yale  College  had  ceased  to  be  what  has  been 
often  claimed  to  have  been  the  main  object  of  its  foundation, 
peculiarly  a  nursery  of  ministers.  Of  the  Class  of  1781  only 
six  out  of  twenty-seven  adopted  that  profession ;  of  the  Class 
of  1780  but  five  out  of  the  same  number.  Few  of  the  stu 
dents  were  members  of  any  church.  At  the  April  communion 
of  the  College  church  in  1779  only  three  of  them  participated. 
Under  President  Stiles  the  number  of  communicants  was 
considerably  increased.  He  led  the  way  towards  the  serious 
study  of  moral  and  religious  subjects.  In  1779  a  course  of 
instruction  in  Ethics  or  Moral  Philosophy  which  had  been 
abandoned  for  several  years,  was  reestablished.  A  year 
later  he  also  set  up  weekly  lectures  on  theology.  They  were 
given  on  Saturday  afternoons  to  both  graduates  and  under 
graduates.23  Religion  was  presented  in  a  more  reasonable 
light  than  it  had  been.  The  hyper-Calvinism  characterizing 
the  "new  divinity"  of  the  day  he  treated  with  little  tolerance. 

28  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  328,  349,  453. 


32  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

In  recording  the  death  of  one  of  similar  sentiments  to  his  son, 
he  described  him  thus: 

"He  loved  the  Puritan  Doctrines,  without  those  Innova 
tions  which  make  God,  most  holy  &  blessed,  the  intentional 
Author  of  all  moral  Evil,  -  -  the  Devil  of  the  Universe."24 

This  repellent  theory  of  the  divine  nature  had  been  a  dead 
weight  upon  the  College  for  a  whole  generation.  President 
Stiles  did  much  to  throw  it  off;  but  it  was  long  before  the 
task  was  fully  accomplished. 

One  of  the  customary  college  exercises  at  this  time  seems 
to  have  been  the  composition  of  letters. 

In  his  Freshman  year  Mr.  Baldwin  wrote  the  following  as 
an  example  of  what  one  might  submit  to  a  friend  whom  he 
wished  to  reclaim  from  intemperance: 

"May    A.D.  1778 
Dear  Sir 

The  Love  I  bear  for  you,  -  The  regard  &  esteem  I  have 
for  your  Wife  &  Children  -  The  anxiety  of  your  tender 
Parents,  of  your  brothers  &  Sisters  are  the  inducements 
which  oblege  me  to  write  to  one  who  I  ever  have  held  dear  to 
myself  &  hope  I  ever  may,  notwithstanding  the  misfortunes 
you  have  brought  &  are  bringing  upon  yourself  I  trust 
when  you  reflect  on  these  inducements  you  will  excuse  the 
disagreeable  undertaking  of  laying  open  your  perticular 
failings  to  you  in  legible  Characters  that  you  may  behold 
them  as  in  a  Glass  &  fly  from  such  detestable  practices. 

Intemperance  Sr.  is  one  of  the  most  disagreeable  Vices 
practiced;  only  observe  a  person  overcome  with  the  intoxi 
cating  power  of  Liquor,  see  him  wallowing  in  his  own  filth 
&  nastiness  even  beyond  the  practice  of  the  most  nausious 
beast.  View  him  exposed  in  the  open  air  to  the  mercy  of 
devouring  beasts  &  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  &  it  seems 

24  Ibid.,  460. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  33 

to  me  this  alone  is  sufficient  to  strike  horror  into  the  most 
obdurate  heart  even  if  we  set  aside  the  absolute  consequences 
which  are  not  only  the  ruin  of  his  fortune  &  the  disgrace  he 
brings  on  himself  &  family  but  in  time  the  inevitable  diffi 
culties  of  Life  I  do  not  mean  to  rank  you  among  those  of 
this  Class  yet  Sr.  give  me  leave  to  tell  you,  you  are  in  the 
strate  road  to  it  &  soon  will  arrive  there  unless  you  use  your 
best  endeavours  to  cross  the  bud  now  in  its  infancy  - 

That  you  do  allow  yourself  in  a  too  free  use  of  Spirituous 
Liquor  you  cannot  presume  to  deny;  how  often  have  you 
gone  in  search  of  it  £  left  your  family  in  a  suffering  condi 
tion  for  want  of  you  at  home;  nay  there  is  scarce  a  day 
passes  but  you  are  in  town  &  with  such  Company  too  as  add 
greatly  to  your  disgrace  £  such  as  little  become  the  person 
you  might  have  been,  had  you  rightly  improv'd  your  natural 
abilities  &  your  advantages.  You  Have  as  good  a  natteral 
genious  &  as  good  Learning  as  many  who  are  imployed  in 
some  important  business  either  of  the  Town  or  State  &  give 
me  leave  to  tell  you  it  is  altogether  owing  to  your  I  can 
almost  say  unbounded  use  of  Liquor  that  hinders  you  from 
attaining  the  same  honors:  to  what  other  cause  can  you 
ascribe  it  that  there  is  no  more  notice  taken  of  you  in  public 
business. 

You  cannot  but  be  sensible  how  fast  your  Estate  decays, 
neither  can  you  be  ignorant  of  the  grief  you  are  dayly  load 
ing  on  your  tender  father,  such  grief  £  concern  as  is,  when 
added  to  his  old  age  almost  sufficient  to  bring  his  grey  hares 
with  sorrow  to  the  grave;  neither  do  I  think  this  concern 
much  less  in  your  other  relations. 

&  Sr.  if  nothing  else  will  move  you,  let  me  intreat  you  to 
turn  your  eyes  on  those  lovely  Children  of  yours  see  them 
exposed  to  the  reproaches  of  every  one  &  yet  from  no  mis 
demeanour  of  theirs,  &  as  you  behold  them  look  upon  your 
self  or  rather  on  your  conduct,  observe  the  example  you  set 
them ;  think  whether  they  are  suitable  to  go  from  a  parent 
to  a  child ;  £  that  these  reflections  may  cause  a  reformation 
in  your  conduct  is  the  hearty  desire  of  one  that  wishes  well  to 
you  £  yours." 


34  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

He  felt  that  writing  imaginary  letters  to  imaginary  persons 
was  but  a  poor  way  of  learning  how  to  write  real  letters,  with 
clearness  and  grace,  to  real  persons.  He  determined  to  use 
the  best  means  to  gain  that  faculty,  that  is,  maintaining  a 
frequent  correspondence  with  selected  friends.  Among  these 
were  Rev.  Charles  Backus,  D.D.,  of  Somers  (Yale,  Class 
of  1769),  the  son  of  his  stepmother;  Solomon  Porter  of 
Hartford  (Yale,  Class  of  1775) ;  George  Hough  of  Norwich, 
and  his  classmates,  Kent,  Perkins,  and  Isaacs.  With  Kent 
and  Perkins  he  was  particularly  intimate,  and  letters  were 
exchanged,  as  opportunity  offered,  long  after  their  college 
days  were  past. 

He  also,  while  in  College,  asked  the  favor  of  correspond 
ence  with  several  of  his  lady  acquaintances,  telling  them 
frankly  that  he  wanted  the  polish  of  style  which  their  good 
example  and  kind  criticisms  would  best  confer.  Chief  of 
these  were  Miss  Lois  Wood  and  Miss  Nancy  Dibble  of  Dan- 
bury,  and  Miss  Betsey  Bushnell  of  Lebanon. 

It  was  in  the  Summer  of  1776,  when  a  schoolboy  in  Dan- 
bury,  that  he  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  Solomon  Porter, 
who  had  graduated  from  Yale  in  the  previous  year.  In  the 
latter  part  of  his  Freshman  year,  when  the  courses  of  instruc 
tion  at  Glastonbury  had  been  closed,  and  he  had  returned 
to  his  home  in  Norwich,  fearful  that  he  should  not  be  able 
to  pass  the  required  examinations  on  them,  he  wrote  to  Mr. 
Porter,  who  was  then  in  business  at  Hartford,  for  his 
friendly  counsel.  He  replied,  on  March  24,  1778,  in  a  kindly 
letter,  in  which  occurs  the  following  passage: 

"I  lament  (on  your  account)  the  present  unsettled  state 
of  College  but  hope  e're  long  to  see  our  Alma  Mater  resume 
her  usual  Order  and  appear  more  florishing  than  ever  am 
sorry  you  are  deprived  the  privilege  of  reciting,  yet  trust 
you  will  so  improve  your  time  as  not  to  make  that  despicable 
appearance  you  mentioned  on  examination.  A  Number  of 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  35 

your  Class  are  under  the  tuition  of  Mr  Backus  of  Somers; 
the  Day  I  wrote  you  last  had  the  pleasure  of  waiting  on  your 
Classmate  Sacket  on  his  way  to  Somers;  he  then  talked  of 
returning  to  Windsor  to  study  if  he  could  get  two  or  three 
of  his  Class  to  join  him  -  -  have  not  heard  from  him  since  — 
Kent,  &  I  believe,  Smith  are  with  Mr  E.  K.  White" 

A  straggling  correspondence  between  them  was  maintained 
for  several  years. 

Mr.  Porter,  in  writing  him  on  February  5,  1781,  enquires 
thus,  as  to  the  College  commons: 

"Have  you  the  same  old  round?  methinks  I  can  see  you 
curse  the  Steward  for  finding  you  bad  meat,  stinking  Cheese, 
strong  Butter,  and  milk  &  water  -  -  the  Cooks  for  their  raw, 
smoky,  durty,  nasty,  preparations,  and,  above  all,  the  Butler's 
Boy  for  disturbing  your  matutinum  somnum  by  the  ungrate 
ful  sound  of  that  never  silent  execrable  Tintinnabalum" 

In  the  early  Summer  of  his  Junior  year,  Mr.  Baldwin  asked 
permission  of  Miss  Betsey  Bushnell  of  Lebanon,  Connecticut, 
to  open  a  correspondence  with  her.  What  he  endorsed  as  a 
"rough  draft"  of  this  request  is  as  follows: 

"July  i,  1780 
Dear  Miss  B. 

Though  I  am  sensible  that  for  me  to  attempt  to  introduce 
a  Correspondence  after  so  short  an  acquaintance  may  be 
justly  looked  upon  by  you  as  presumptious,  yet  the  prospect 
which  arises  from  it,  of  an  agreeable  Intimacy  with  so 
amiable  a  Person  &  the  Happiness  attending  it ;  joined  to  the 
hopes  I  entertain  of  improving  myself  in  Letter  writing,  an 
accomplishment  worthy  of  every  Gentleman's  Pursuits  are 
Inducements  sufficient  to  prompt  one  to  undertake  it.  And  I 
can  sincerely  wish  you  could  find  those  that  would  induce  you 
to  make  it  mutual. 

It  seems  peculiarly  necessary  for  Persons  of  a  Scholastic 
Life  to  have  frequent  Intercourse  &  an  extensive  Correspond- 


36  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

ence  with  the  female  World,  that  they  may  polish  off  that 
Scholastic  rust  so  apt  to  adhere  to  them  I  am  sensible  I  am 
possessed  of  too  much  of  it,  but  am  resolved  for  the  future 
to  deliver  myself  up  to  the  rasps  &  files  of  the  Artist,  lest 
it  get  deeper  root. 

The  natural  ferocity  of  our  Tempers  &  maners  is  such  that 
it  requires  much  of  that  softness,  so  natural  to  your  sex  to 
allay  them,  This  again  Miss  B.  must  plead  my  excuse,  and 
the  personal  Beauties,  that  agreeable  humour  &  Pleasantness 
which  I  know  you  to  be  possessed  of,  added  to  the  peculiar 
Turn  you  have  to  please,  tends  much  to  increase  my  anxiety 
&  long  for  the  time  when  a  happy  Correspondence  shall  be 
established  between  us  -  As  I  intended  this  only  as  an 
introduction,  I  will  not  trouble  you  more  till  I  have  your 
approbation,  &  though  it  is  with  regret  I  bid  you  Adieu,  yet 
it  is  with  pleasure  I  can  subscribe  myself  yours 

N  B  I  will  not  forget  to  remember  my  Compliments  to 
friends  in  Lebanon  particularly  your  brother,  nor  again  to 
answer  this  the  first  opportunity  if  you  think  proper,  other 
wise  you  will  please  to  destroy  the  contents  &  laugh  at  the 
impertinence  of  yours 

as  before." 

Her  reply  follows : 

"Sir. 

A  ready  answer  is  often  misconstrued:  &  generally  sup 
posed  to  be  premature.  At  present  (if  I  may  be  my  own 
judge)  I  think  it  is  not  my  case,  the  favourable  opportunity 
of  replying  by  MT  R—  — n,  &  the  uncertainty  of  another, 
the  various  conjectures  you  would  raise  in  your  own  mind 
from  a  neglected  epistle,  were  motives  sufficient  to  induce 
me  to  an  answer :  which,  I  think  may  be  with  propriety  be 
in  the  affirmative. 

In  corresponding  with  a  person  of  your  genious  &  ability, 
I  may  reasonably  promise  myself  some  advantage,  without 
once  considering  the  advantageous  situation  you  are  in,  to 
improve  in  every  laudable  attainment:  with  natural  sim 
plicity  you  may  be  diverted,  while  with  what  is  valuable,  & 
useful  I  may  possibly  be  profited. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  37 

Your  resolution  to  polish  of  (f )  scholastic  rust,  I  sincerely 
applaud;  tho  in  itself  innocent,  it  is  to  some  very  disagree 
able.  To  execute  your  plan,  you  think  'that  intercourse  with 
the  female  world  is  necessary'  this  perhaps  is  commend 
able.—  but  the  consequence  of  your  fatal  resolution,  to 
deliver  yourself  up  to  the  'rasps  &  files  of  the  Artist',  I 
must  leave  for  a  more  penetrative  pen  to  delineate. 

from  &cc 

BB- 
Lebanon  July  4th  1780" 

This  brought  out  a  second  letter,  the  draft  of  which  is  as 
follows : 

"D  M  B 

I  lately  received  your  most  agreeable  Epistle  by  Mr  Robert 
son  &  assure  you  it  was  highly  agreeable  in  evry  respect  the 
length  excepted  &  were  Mr  R  to  go  back  &  forth  evry  Week 
I  doubt  not  but  the  case  would  be  very  agreeable. 

Your  conjecture  with  regard  to  my  anxiety  in  case  you  did 
not  write  I  assure  you  was  justly  founded  &  I  underwent 
some  of  it  before  I  knew  you  had  - 

With  natural  simplicity  you  think  I  may  be  diverted  I 
own  it,  but  assure  you  Miss  B  without  flattery  that  I  am 
much  more  delighted  with  the  acquired  Sentiments  &  the 
easy  Stile  that  expresses  them,  which  I  find  in  yours  -  I 
am  happy  to  find  that  you  so  much  applaud  my  resolution 
with  respect  to  scholastic  rust  &  the  measures  I  propose  to 
get  rid  of  it,  though  the  consequence  you  think  you  can  not 
describe  - 

You  must  excuse  me  Miss  if  my  Letter  is  not  so  long  or 
correct  as  you  can  wish  for  I  assure  you  it  is  amid  the  great 
est  Noise  &  confusion  immaginable  that  I  write  Scholars 
continually  in  &  out  forbidding  my  writing,  the  Cause  of 
this  is  the  Examination  of  the  Senior  Class,  which  is  com 
monly  attended  with  a  Relaxation  from  studies  &  in  attend 
ance  on  favourrite  amusements  &  mine  you  see  has  centered 
on  Writing  letters  &  this  evry  rational  person  would  think 
an  amusement,  provided  he  had  so  agreeable  a  Person  for 


3  &  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

the  Object  -  The  exhibitions  usual  on  such  examinations 
will  begin  soon,  they  will  be  attended  with  a  great  Audience 
of  Gentlemen  &  Ladies  &  I  can  with  Sincerity  wish  myself 
(the)  happiness  of  Introducing  you  among  them  &  since  you 
cannot  oblige  me  in  this  you  will  at  least  suffer  me  to  attend 
them  myself  &  in  consequence  I  bid  you  a  temporary  Adieu 

And  now  I  suppose  M.  B.  you  will  be  anxious  to  enquire 
whether  the  exercise  were  agreeable  &  if  they  were  crowned 
with  a  Collection  of  fine  Ladies  -  -  these  I  readily  answer  in 
the  Afermative  -  -  but  I  am  sensible  I  have  reason  to  ask 
pardon  for  troubling  you  with  a  recital  of  such  agreeable 
scenes  since  they  can  be  only  an  aggravation  to  one  who  did 
not  pertake  of  the  pleasure  of  them  - 

And  it  is  now  too  late  in  the  Evening  to  resume  a  new 
subject  so  I  must  once  more  bid  you  adieu  with  assuring  you 
I  remain  your  most  obedient  humb  Sevant  &  if  you  will  allow 
the  expression  Admirer 

Simeon  Baldwin." 

A  few  months  later  she  writes  again. 

"Lebanon,  October  23  1780 
Sir 

Having  found  an  opportunity  of  sending  a  line  to  you,  I 
cannot  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  improving  it :  but  upon 
my  word  T  know  not  what  to  write  -  -  our  acquaintance  will 
apologise  for  no  freedom  —  &  a  reserv'd  formal  epistle  would 
appear  unfriendly  -  -  and  it  is  exceeding  difficult  for  me  to 
determine  what  would  be  to  you  agreeable,  or  entertaining  - 
a  delineation  of  the  advantages  of  letter-writing  T  would  be 
dictating  to  better  judgment  -  -  &  a  description  of  my  own 
situation,  very  ungen(er)ous.  I  can  think  of  nothing  at 
present  that  would  be  more  satisfactory  than  something  con 
cerning  some  particular  Ladies  -  -  &  first  place  would  give 
an  account  of  an  agreeable  visit  which  I  made  this  afternoon, 
but  previous  to  this  would  observe,  the  Ladies  were  all  older 
than  myself,  excepting  two,  -  -  seven  of  us  formed  the  circle, 
courtship,  &  matrimony  the  topic  of  conversation,  &  must 
own  we  were  rather  severe  in  our  censures  of  the  men,  tho 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  39 

perhaps  not  altogether  unjust  -  -  but  finding  our  sentiments 
were  not  concordant,  I  returned  to  enjoy  my  own  opinion  in 
a  happy  retirement. 

As  it  is  natural  for  every  one  to  make  frequent  mention 
of  whatever  is  upon  their  mind,  you  will  suopose  it  time  to 
notice  the  other  Sex  --be  not  too  happy  in  your  suppositions ; 
it  is  not  a  matter  of  so  much  weight  upon  my  mind,  but  that 
I  could  leave  the  company  of  three  worthy  young  Gentlemen 
to  my  Brother,  while  I  retired  to  write  -  this  you  will  say  is 
almost  incredible  --  but  not  to  create  any  unbeliefs  let  me  tell 
you  the  evening  is  not  far  spent. 

Yours  of  July  last  I  received  by  Mr  R—  — n.  I  assure  you 
that  a  'recital  of  the  agreeable  scenes'  at  the  examination 
was  far  from  being  'an  aggravation/  to  see  persons  tasting 
the  highest  degrees  of  happiness,  I  hope  will  never  excite  a 
spirit  of  uneasiness  in  me,  merely,  because  I  am  not  a 
partaker. 

I  presume  you  will  put  the  most  candid  construction  on  this 
very  lengthy  epistle. 

from  B  B 
Mr  Baldwin." 

His  draft  of  his  next  letter  to  her  makes  it  seem  probable 
that  it  was  not  written  before  the  following  Winter. 

"To  Miss  B  Bushnell  - 

The  interrupted  chain  of  our  correspondence  is  such  that 
it  almost  requires  a  formal  introduction  before  I  may  venture 
to  begin  another  Epistle,  yet  the  pleasure  alredy  received  & 
the  agreeable  prospect  of  future  happiness  as  well  as  improve 
ment  on  my  part,  forbid  that  I  should  let  it  entirely  cease  - 
but  now  I've  taken  my  pen  I  have  not  determined  on  the 
subject  for,  as  you  say,  our  acquaintance  will  apologize  for 
but  little  freedom  -  I  have  asked  my  room-mates  what 
subject  would  be  proper  for  a  letter  to  an  amiable  young  Lady 
One  says  Sublimity,  but  I  am  not  master  enough  either  in 
Theory  or  practice  to  write  an  agreeable  Treatise  on  this; 
another  says  hatred  &  insincerity  but  I  hope  we  may  neither 


40  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

of  us  have  to  do  with  this  -  Love  &  friendship  are  pro 
posed  ;  as  to  the  former  I  acknowledge  I  never  was  affected 
with  it,  &  consequently  cannot  write  on  it  with  that  pathos  the 
subject  would  require  -  -  Should  I  attempt  a  Dissertation 
&c,  Courtship  &  matrimony  you  tell  me  \vere  the  subject  of 
conversation  for  the  agreeable  Circle  of  which  you  was  a 
part,  on  the  afternoon  previous  to  your  writing  your  Last: 
this  I  fancy  was  then  so  much  better  discussed  than  what 
could  be  expected  from  the  inexperienced  I,  that  I  dare  not 
attempt  it 

I  shall  however  think  myself  honoured  in  submitting  to 
your  perusal  the  scanty  productions  of  an  inexperienced 
writer,  though  quite  unadorned  with  that  fictitious  pomp  & 
those  dazling  ornaments  too  freequently  used  as  a  gloss  to 
the  Deceit  of  flatterers,  &  which  I  know  must  be  as  disgustful 
to  your  more  refined  tast  as  they  are  unnatural  to  yours  in 
the  Bonds  of  friendship," 

Early  in  his  Senior  year  lie  seems  to  have  had  a  very 
friendly  acquaintance  with  Miss  Nancy  Dibble  of  Danbury. 
It  was,  no  doubt,  begun  when  he  was  at  that  place,  as  a  school 
boy.  He  writes  her  on  October  26,  1780,  and  receives,  early 
in  1/81,  by  the  hand  of  Mr.  Hillhouse,  this  answer: 

"Danbury  Fcb  23  1781. 

T  received,  Sir, 

With  pleasure  your  Ingenious  &  Polite  favour  Of  Oct  26, 
which  I  should  have  acknowledged  before  this  time  had  an 
opportunity  offered  I  think  your  Modesty  was  rather 
extravigant  to  oppose  your  pleasure  (if  it  was  any)  in  Writ 
ing  to  me;  however  I  am  happy  that  it  was  Conquered  by 
any  inducement  whatever.  I  hope  after  this  you  will  not  be 
at  a  loss  for  a  subject,  as  I  will  Venture  to  give  you  Leav  to 
Write  on  any  which  may  please  your  own  fancy,  and  let  the 
Subject  be  ever  so  pleasing  in  itself,  I  dare  say  it  will  receiv 
new  Graces  from  your  Just  and  Lively  imagination,—  You 
must  allow  me  Sir  to  tell  you  I  think  you  have  Entirely 
Escaped  that  pedantic  air  you  mention,  which  is  too  often 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  41 

the  Companion  of  young  gentlemen  when  the  Leave  Calage. 
I  think  this  proceeds  from  their  Ignorance  of  the  World,  as 
I  perceiv  their  acquaintance  with  it  is  their  Remedy;  you 
appear  to  be  so  well  acquainted  with  the  arts  of  the  fair  that 
I  think  their  is  but  little  danger  of  your  being  deceived  by 
them,  and  I  believe  their  is  very  few  Such  Characters  as  you 
Described;  their  are  Some  Gentlemen  so  Whimsical  that 
they  think  every  Lady  of  one  or  other  of  these  Characters, 
as  they  will  say  their  is  no  medium  in  a  Lady,  but  I  know 
you  have  more  generosity  than  to  think  so  unfavorably  I  am 
Sir  with  Sentiments  of  Respect  &  Esteem  your 

Obliged  friend  N.  Dibble 
Miss  Lucy  returns  her  ) 
most  respectfull  Comp 
to  Mr  Baldwin  ) 

Whether  other  letters  passed  between  them,  or  not,  does 
not  appear,  but  it  is  probable,  from  the  following  extract 
from  a  letter  to  him  from  Benjamin  Isaacs,  of  April  i,  1782, 
that  one  more  came  from  him : 

"Your  Friend  Xancy  Dibble,  was  married  to  Mr  Tucker, 
last  tuesday  night,  not  long  since  I  had  the  honor  of  drinking 
Tea  with  her  at  Danberry;  £  she  told  that  you  had 
written  her  a  very  fine  Letter  I  re-echoed  her  praises,  & 
would,  had  the  wind  been  fair,  conveyed  them  to  you  that 
instant,  but  I  suppose  the  twiching  of  your  right  Ear  gave 
you  notice  what  we  are  about:  it  is  they  say  sometimes  a 
faithful  Monitor  My  left  Ear,  this  instant,  gives  me  warn 
ing  not  to  trouble  you  with  this,  but  your  observations, 
against  my  negligence  will  ever  prevail." 

His  other  lady  correspondent  at  Danbury,  Miss  Lois  Wood, 
was  apparently  a  family  friend,  who  was  considerably  older 
than  himself.  During  his  three  years  at  school  there  he  had 
formed  quite  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintanceship.  One  or  the 
other  of  his  sisters  in  turn  kept  house  for  his  brother,  and 


42  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

they  saw  a  good  deal  of  company.  Simeon  was  a  handsome 
boy,  with  blue  eyes,  and  flaxen  hair,  an  easy  talker,  and  pre 
possessing  in  his  address.  While  in  College,  he  visited 
Danbury  once  or  twice  again,  and  was  always  interested  in 
news  from  that  town.  It  was  the  better  to  secure  it  as  well 
as  to  improve  his  style  in  letter-writing,  that  when  he  was 
seventeen  or  eighteen  years  old,  he  asked  from  Miss  Wood 
the  privilege  of  correspondence.  She  granted  it,  and  they 
exchanged  letters  several  times  a  year,  for  some  time.  She 
often  alludes  to  the  doings  of  her  family  in  a  way  that  shows 
that  they  all  knew  to  whom  she  wrote. 

J 

Of  these  letters  some  were  written  during  the  year  suc 
ceeding  his  graduation. 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Miss  Lois  Wood 

"Dear  Miss  Lois: 

It  is  now  a  month  since  I  wrote  a  large  Packet  to  Dan- 
bury  but  as  I  have  received  no  returns  conclude  it  never 
reached  the  Persons  to  whom  it  was  directed  so  that  without 
apologies  I  may  still  venture  upon  another  with  the  same 
freedom  -  Little  did  I  think  when  I  left  Danbury  Inst 
where  I  was  entertained  with  such  an  agreeable  Circle  of 
Intimates  -  -  that  we  should  suffer  two  long  months  to  pass 
without  once  attempting  to  fan  the  coals  of  that  friendship 
which  we  then  professed  &  especially  so  when  the  small  bar 
rier  of  40  miles  easily  passed  is  the  only  hindrance  But  yet, 
though  it  may  appear  singular  to  make  such  an  excuse,  it 
is  the  want  of  opportunity  -  -  for  to  tell  the  truth  your  friend 

-  pardon  the  digression  -  -  is  become  wholly  weaned  from 
the  world  &  given  to  the  Muses:  these  I  court  with  equal 
pleasure  &  profit,  devoting  all  my  little  stock  of  Gallantry 
to  increase  the  intimacy  -  My  visits  I  make  almost  as 
constant  as  the  day,  &  frequently  sup  with  them  upon  the 
richest  repast — 25  sometimes  we  have  a  dish  of  history  sea- 

25  History,  Poetry,  Novels  &  Plays  for  the  dainty  Morsels  of  the 
Banquet. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  43 

soned  and  made  palateable  with  a  flowing,  easy  stile  -  -  & 
for  a  second  course  perhaps  a  little  Poetry  cooked  by  a  Milton 
or  a  Pope,  &  the  Banquet  closed,  or  interspersed,  with  a  few 
of  those  easily  digested  morsels,  Novels  &  Plays  The  dishes 
of  the  Feast  you  readily  see  will  afford  sufficient  matter  for 
Conversation  to  the  whole  Circle,  which  is  commonly  com 
posed  of  none  but  the  9  sisters  &  myself.—  Thus,  Miss  Lois, 
I  have  given  you  a  description  of  my  situation  &  imployment, 
whh  though  longer  than  I  intended,  I  hope  is  not  disgustful. 
If  from  my  relation  you  think  I  spend  my  time  happily,  I 
must  assure  you  I  do,  but  then  point  to  yourself  the  Conse 
quence  -  -  fancy  you  see  me  in  the  Spring  stalking  forth  a 
morose  Pedant,  covered  with  Scholastic  rust — for  These 
Persons  tho  otherwise  agreeable  -  -  seldom  form  the  man  of 
the  world  -  -  know  little  about  the  Beau-mond  -  -  or  the 
insidious  deceit  of  flatterers.  &  Indeed  I  find  they  are  not 
possessed  of  all  that  Delicacy  &  Softness,  the  Peculiar  char 
acteristic  of  your  Sex,  &  whh  is  so  very  necessary  to  soften 
the  natural  ferocity  of  ours  --  dont  think  I'm  preaching  for 
I  assure  you  I  never  yet  received  Orders  -  I  am  sensible, 
Miss  Lois,  that  there  is  an  agreeable  manner  of  expressing 
familiar  matters  as  well  in  our  Letters  as  in  personal  Con 
versation  &  whh  renders  them  peculiarly  engaging  -  -  I  wish, 
for  the  pleasure  of  my  friends,  I  was  possessed  of  this  happy 
tallent  -  -  but  small  talk  of  either  kind  is  not  the  natural 
Product  of  my  Genius." 

"N  Haven  Februarv  2cl  1782 
D.  Miss 

I  perceive  from  sad  experience  tho  \  know  not  from  what 
rule  that  I  must  expect  to  sent  2  Epistles  to  you  before  I 
may  hope  an  Answer  I  say  I  know  not  from  what  rule, 
for  were  it  a  Compensation  for  yours,  I'm  sensible  a  Dozen 
would  not  make  it  -  -  but  yet,  tho  I  am  sensible  the  Ballance 
is  so^nuch  against  me,  I  can  by  no  means  forbear  writing 
for  I've  heard  it  an  observation  that  even  a  scrap  of  paper, 
which  we  know  has  recently  passed  thro  the  hands  of  our 
f rinds  causes  many  pleasing  Emotions  -  Now  as  I  have  the 


44  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

pleasure  of  my  friends  much  at  heart,  it  affords  me  much 
happiness  to  reflect  that  in  the  present  case  I  am  doubly  pre 
pared  to  effect  it,  for  if  the  Letter  in  itself  is  agreeable,  my 
End  is  certainly  answered,  &  if  it  be  disagreeable  -  -  only 
conceive  it  a  useless  fragment  devoid  of  contents  but  just 
left  me  &  I  think  I  have  obtained  my  wishes  from  the  Obser 
vation  made  above  .... 

Our  dancing  School  which  has  for  so  long  been  the  subject 
of  Table  chat  will  be  opened  to  morrow  -  -  this  will  afford 
new  business  for  us  -  -  this  is  all  the  news  in  our  Day  that  I 
can  at  present  afford  for  I  assure  you  I  am  almost  as  dead 
to  the  world  as  the  Hermit  of  the  Desert. 

The  short  notice  I  had  of  this  opportunity  requires  me  to 
shorten  my  Letter  though  I  have  many  things  to  say  & 
Questions  to  Ask  of  you  &  our  friends  but  they  all  amount 
but  to  this  that  I  am  entirely  your's  &  their 's  most  sincerely 
Miss  Lois  Wood." 

Miss  Lois  Wood  to  Simeon  Baldwin 

"Danbury  February  22(1  1782 
Dear  Sir 

I  had  the  honour  of  receiving  yours  by  Mr  Trowbridge; 
which  afforded  me  Infinite  J Measure,  first  Because  that  my 
scrawl  it  gave  you  any  Satisfaction  and  Secondly  that  I  am 
not  to  be  Numbered  with  those  Delinquents;  but  you  must 
Consider  that  they  are  Others  ways  engaged;  and  I  sup 
pose  they  think  on  Business  of  more  Importance  than  Letter 
writing;  (Viz)  Matrimony;  but  I  hope  They  will  take  care 
and  not  go  to  N  Haven,  as  I  think  by  all  account  there  is 
Something  in  the  Climate  which  is  very  Disadvantageous 
to  People  who  are  about  to  give  Hymen  an  Invitation  to 
Light  his  Torches  and  If  you  ever  mean  to  Marry  a  N  H. 
Lady  I  should  advise  you  by  all  means  to  move  her  from 
there;  as  I  dont  think  the  Ladies  minds  can  be  formed  so 
very  different  from  other  peoples ;  and  It  must  be  Something 
particular  in  the  air  -  -  but  you  must  Consider  it  is  Court 
week  here  and  Company  will  not  admit  of  any  more  but  only 
I  am  your  Sincere  Friend  and  Humble  Servant  Lois  Wood. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate*  45 

N  B  My  Dadda  desired  me  to  Inform  you  that  Lewis 
Holms'  Estate  is  now  advertised  for  settlement  and  If  you 
will  send  him  your  account  he  will  give  it  to  one  Lawyer  Dell 
an  acquaintance  of  his  who  will  procure  you  your  dew  - 

L  W." 

February  23d  82 
Dear  Sir 

I  received  yours  by  Dr  Munson  -  -  and  am  happy  to  find 
you  so  Friendly  as  to  not  wait  for  an  answer  to  your  Last 
as  I  assure  you  my  Friend,  I  have  not  had  an  Opertunity  till 
this  since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  it  -  -  you  are  very 
polite  Indeed  to  say  that  a  Dozen  of  your  Letters  is  not  a 
Compensation  for  one  of  mine  —  Flatery  undoubtedly  How 
ever  I  shall  not  take  it  in  that  way,  but  only  that  you  are  glad 
to  hear  from  your  Friends  and  as  there  is  none  in  Danbury 
who  by  action  prove  that  they  wish  to  inlarge  their  Friend 
ship  with  you  by  Letters,  excepting  my  self,  mine  may  give 
you  some  degree  of  satisfaction  -  -  Lockwood  says  he  would 
write  now  If  that  he  was  not  so  much  Engaged  with  Law 
affairs;  but  I  told  him  to  write  Love  instead  of  Law  as  I 
thought  that  most  proper  -  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  are 
coming  on  so  smart  in  the  Dancing  way  I  shant  hardly  dare 
to  speak  to  some  folks  in  the  spring  I  suppose  they  will  be  so 
smart.  But  the  Lawyers  have  used  up  all  my  Paper  since 
they  have  been  here  so  that  I  have  only  enough  left  to  say 
I  am  Yours  sincerely 

Lois." 

Her  correspondent  having  found  fault  with  her  for  not 
telling  him  all  the  Danbury  news,  she  replied  on  April  7, 
1782: 

"I  assure  you  my  Friend  that  had  any  thing  worth  relating 
to  you  Occured  I  should  have  taken  a  Pleasure  in  Commu 
nicating  it.  I  can  Inform  you  though  that  we  had  an  Elegant 
Ball  last  week  at  Cp*  Clerks  and  you  must  know  I  had  the 
honour  of  being  Mr  Bebee9  partner  -  -  undoubtedly  you  have 


46  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

heard  before  this  that  we  have  no  N  Dibble  In  Dan.  as  she 
has  Lately  deserted  Celibacy  and  Inlisted  herself  in  the  bands 
of  Hymen  with  Mr  Tucker  -  -  as  for  going  to  Norwich  I 
would  go  with  all  my  heart  but  I  fear  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
Persuade  Betsy  to  go  along,  Though  I  am  sure  If  she  was 
half  as  anxious  to  see  her  friends  there  as  I  am  that  she  would 
go,  as  I  allready  anticipate  the  Pleasure  I  should  receive  in 
that  visit  -  but  you  must  not  expect  anything  agreeable  or 
entertaining  from  me  at  this  time  as  I  have  been  hearing 
Dr  Rogers  preach  his  farewell  Sermon  which  has  rather 
thrown  my  mind  into  a  Serious  posture;  and  I  must  beg  of 
you  to  take  orders  for  Preaching  very  soon.  If  you  ever  mean 
to,  and  come  and  Live  here,  as  we  are  Tntirely  destitute  of  a 
Preacher  and  now  know  the  value  and  feel  the  Loss  of  your 
Worthy  &  most  amiable  Brother.  From  your  sincere  friend 
and  humble  servant  Lois." 

At  this  time  and  until  sometime  after  his  return  from 
Albany,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  thinking  seriously  of  preparing 
for  the  ministry. 

He  visited  his  old  home  at  Norwich  in  the  Summer  of 
1782,  and  another  letter  from  Miss  Wood,  dated  July  21  of 
that  year,  refers  to  it  thus: 

"I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your  two  Last 
oblidging  favours  and  am  very  happy  to  find  you  have  not 
forgot  your  friend  -  -  you  seem  to  make  Apologies  for  the 
former  which  I  think  was  Intirely  Needless  as  it  aforded  me 
the  greatest  Pleasure,  as  it  came  at  a  time  when  1  began  to 
think  your  Journey  to  Norwich  the  Pleasure  and  Satisfac 
tion  you  received  with  your  Friends;  and  the  Pleasing 
Sensations  which  must  have  risen  from  thinking  you  had 
Captivated  three  or  four  fine  young  Ladies  -  -  had  Driven 
poor  Lois  quite  from  your  remembrance  -  -  but  am  very 
sorry  to  hear  your  ride  was  so  Disagreeable." 

In  the  Summer  of  1/84,  she  married  a  Mr.  Starr  of  Bethel, 
and  his  sister  Bethiah  wrote  him  of  it,  and  of  several  other 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  47 

recent  marriages,  in  a  way  showing  clearly  that  the  cor 
respondence  had  been  a  purely  Platonic  one. 

He  was  asked  by  his  sister  Mary,  in  August,  1781,  when 
she  was  a  woman  of  twenty-eight,  for  his  opinion  as  to 
whether  she  should  accede  to  the  request  of  a  Mr.  Weed  to 
correspond  with  her  in  a  similar  way.  She  writes  that  she 
thinks  Mr.  Weed  a  worthy  young  man,  but  will  follow  her 
brother's  counsel  in  the  matter,  adding  that  she  has  ever 
looked  upon  it  as  an  advantage  for  the  improvement  of 
young  women  to  correspond  with  gentlemen,  and  that  so  far 
as  she  is  capable,  she  would  be  willing  to  write,  as  requested. 

The  advice  seems  to  have  been  favorable,  for  a  corre 
spondence  with  Mr.  Weed  was  begun,  though  soon  dropped. 

Changes  in  our  social  usages  served  to  put  an  end,  early 
in  the  next  century,  to  exchanges  of  letters  of  this  description. 

One  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  grandsons,  in  a  letter  to  a  younger 
sister,  in  1848,  thus  narrates  the  fate  of  a  similar  invitation 
to  that  sent  by  her  grandfather  to  Miss  Dibble: 

"Your  letter  came  just  in  time  to  keep  me  from  writing  to 
Hartford,  as  T  was  going  to  tomorrow,  to  make  of  Emily26 
the  same  request  that  Tom  Beecher  made  to  Elizabeth27 
which  so  astonished  her,  i.  e.  that,  since  she  was  fond  of 
scribbling,  it  would  give  him  great  pleasure  if  she  would 
collect  her  letters  into  words,  her  words  into  sentences,  & 
send  them  on,  at  stated  times,  to  him.  Elizabeth  rolled  up 
her  eyes." 

The  manners  of  women  in  Connecticut  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  eighteenth  century  were  in  general  less  formal  and 
conventional  than  now. 

In  the  first  year  of  his  tutorship,  for  instance,  Mr.  Baldwin 
received  the  following  note  from  Miss  Ruth  Stiles,  the  Presi- 

28  A  first  cousin. 
27  Another  sister. 


48  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

dent's  daughter,  then  a  girl  of  nineteen,  inviting  him  to  what 
was  probably  the  Commencement  ball  :28 

"Miss  Ruthy  Stiles's  compliments  wait  on  Mr  Tutor  Bald 
win  with  the  inclosed  Ticket  which  unexpectedly  was  pre 
sented  her  by  Mrs  Wilson :  it  entitles  a  Gentleman  &  Lady  to 
a  part  in  the  Ball  this  Eveing:  Mr  Baldwin  will  at  once 
percieve  that  Miss  Ruthy  would  be  happy  in  his  company  as 
she  has  made  the  predelection  by  sending  him  the  Ticket 

Leap  Year" 

The  invitation  also  indicates  that,  had  it  not  been  for  this 
ticket,  he  would  probably  not  have  gone  to  the  ball.  Fond 
as  he  was  of  dancing,  this  could  only  have  been  because  he 
did  not  feel  able  to  support  the  expense  incident  to  attending 
such  an  entertainment. 

Dancing  by  students  had  formerly  been  discountenanced. 
In  1762  three  students  were  publicly  "admonished  for  having 
got  up  a  dance  at  Milford,"  and  four  more  were  fined  2s  6d 
for  attending  it."'1'  As  early  as  1775  public  sentiment  had 
changed,  and  a  dancing  school  was  opened  in  New  Haven.30 

Balls  had  by  this  time  become  a  common  diversion  in  all 
the  larger  towns  of  the  State.  The  graduating  class  at  Yale 
were  accustomed  to  have  one  in  the  State  House,  on  the 
evening  of  Commencement.31 

Mr.  Baldwin  had  learned  to  dance  before  coming  to  Col 
lege  and  was  fond  of  the  amusement.  One  of  his  boyhood 
comrades  in  Norwich,  George  Hough,  writes  to  him  in  his 
Junior  year  the  following  letter  describing  two  balls  recently 
given  at  that  place : 

28  Miss  Stiles  was  married  in  1799  to  Rev.  Caleb  Gannett  of  Cam 
bridge,  who  was  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1763. 

29  Yale  Book,  I,  445. 

30  Barber,  History  and  Antiquities  of  New  Haven,  134. 

31  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  36. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  49 

"Norwich,  2Oth  Novr.  1779.- 
Dear  Sir. 

My  former  Manifestations  of  Friendship  and  Affection 
for  you,  will,  I  make  no  doubt,  be  considered  a  sufficient 
Introduction  to  this  Epistle;  I  shall  therefore  proceed  to 
give  you  a  vulgar  Description  of  our  affairs  here: —  And  am 
sorry  to  say,  that  we  have  been  in  a  terrible  Hubbub  since 
'you  left  this  place,  occasioned  by  Miss  S—  — y  T-  —  p's 
refusing  to  gratify  Mr.  Hackley  with  the  Pleasure  of  waiting 
on  her  to  our  late  recreative  Ball  after  Training; —  but  this 
is  now  considerably  hushed,  and  I  hope  the  peevish  Disposi 
tions  and  fantastical  Notions  of  those  fickle-minded  Persons 
will  no  more  be  permitted  to  disturb  the  Peace,  Tranquility 
and  Union  of  our  Part  of  the  Community  --  and  all  haughty 
Designs  and  demoniacal  Machinations  wafted  to  the  utter 
most  ends  of  the  Earth.  -  However,  a  Detail  of  what  hap 
pened  in  Consequence  of  that  Affair,  will  not,  I  presume  to 
say,  be  disagreeable  to  you,  -  -  which  I  shall  endeavour  to 
give  as  accurate  and  concise  as  possible ;  though  a  particular 
one  will  doubtless  require  some  Patience. 

After  our  absent  Members  returned  from  the  Forest  (one 
of  which,  on  his  Way  Home,  met  Mr.  Hackley  on  his  Return, 
who  did  not  forget  to  entertain  him,  as  well  as  others  before 
he  left  this  Place,  with  a  Series  of  delightful  Talks  and 
diabolical  Falsehoods)  I  had  enough  to  do  to  palliate  the 
Blame  and  Censure  brought  on  me  by  his  Malevolence,  until 
I  could  give  a  true  and  candid  Representation,  not  only  of 
my  Conduct  in  particular,  but  the  Company's  in  general, 
towards  that  Gentleman,  for  it  seems  he  imputed  his  being 
destitute  of  a  Partner  that  Evening,  entirely  to  me  -  -  saying 
that  I  treated  him  disrespectfully  as  a  Stranger,  by  not 
acquainting  him  of  Miss  S—  —  y's  Aversion  to  go  with 
him ;  -  -  which  in  Truth  I  ought  to  have  done,  had  I  had  an 
Opportunity  before  we  arrived  to  the  place  agreed  on  for 
our  Recreation;  but  being  deprived  of  any,  I  thought  it 
then  most  proper  to  inform  Mr.  Simeon  Lathrop  of  the  sad 
Effects  of  his  Appointment  who  I  made  no  Doubt  would 
dispense  it  to  him,  -  -  and  that,  in  my  Opinion,  would  have 
been  more  consistant  than  for  me  in  my  vicarious  State.  — 


50  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

But  the  greatest  Absurdity  was  his  saying,  that  we  took  a 
Thirty  Dollar  Bill  of  his  towards  defraying  the  Expence  of 
the  Entertainment!  -  Though  there  was  a  Thirty  Dollar 
Bill  taken  by  my  Kinsman  John  (who  repeatedly  refused  it) 
previous  to  Mr.  Hackley's  leaving  the  Company;  yet  his 
insisting  on  his  taking  it,  -  -  saying,  he  hated  to  go  away 
before  the  Company  broke  up,  without  leaving  something;  - 
that  he  was  unwell,  &c.  -  -  and  that  if  we  declined  taking  it 
at  the  Close  of  the  Dance,  we  might  give  it  to  his  Cousin 
Hannah,  who  he  should  see  the  next  Day,  and  would  take  it 
again:  -  -  Instead  of  that,  he  made  it  his  particular  Business 
the  next  Day  to  assert,  that  we  took  it  toward  the  expense. 

I  was  in  a  Manner  totally  ignorant  of  Mr  Hackley's  Dis 
gust,  until  Mr  Asa  Fitch  acquainted  me  of  it,  some  Time  after 
he  returned  from  the  Forest ;  who  was  the  Person  that  met 
j\1r  Ilackley  on  his  Return,  as  before  mentioned.  -  He  at 
first  appeared  very  much  dissatisfied  with  our  Conduct  in 
treating  that  Gentleman  in  the  manner  he  said  we  did,  (and 
good  Reason  according  to  his  Story)  -  -  but  when  he  came 
to  be  acquainted  with  the  Truth  and  Circumstances  of  the 
Matter,  he  did  not  think  us  so  obnoxious  to  Censure  as  he  at 
first  suspected. 

Let  this  liuddhl  Narration  suffice  for  the  present,  which  I 
have  to  inform  you,  that  perfect  Harmony  now  subsists 
between  us  -  -  no  Jars  nor  Contagions  are  heard  -  -  all  is 
quiet  and  serene,  -  -  two  of  our  Cowass  Friends  have  been 
down,  and  we  have  had  an  agreeable  Dance;  -  Stop!  - 
was  agreeable?  -  let  me  consider  a  Moment  -  O  Yes, 
agreeable  to  me  by  all  means;  -  -  though  not  to  be  compared 
to  any  -  You  would  have  laughed  to  see  the  hustling  and 
irregular  Manner  in  which  it  was  conducted  -  Female 
guests  were  so  scarce,  that  myself  and  one  other  went  with 
out  Partners;  -  -  and  the  pompous  Ball  was  performed -at 
Mr  Jesse  Brown's.  -  -  When  I  reflect  on  that  of  ours,  the 
Decency,  good  Order,  Freedom  from  Clamours,  Com 
placency,  and  every  other  Decoration  that  could  contribute 
to  illustrate  a  Performance  of  the  Kind,  appear  so  conspic 
uous,  that  the  mere  Glance  of  Thought  on  the  other,  renders 
it  almost  unworthy  the  Name  of  BALL  or  ENTERTAINMENT. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  5 1 

Your  Attention,  I  imagine  is  by  this  Time  sufficiently 
weary  of  my  unrefined  Stile  -  -  and  perhaps  excited  by  the 
Reflection  of  something  more  entertaining  than  the  Perusal 
of  my  Scribbles :  Therefore,  presenting  the  Compliments  of 
your  amiable  female  Friend  -  -  my  Brother  Wetherill  - 
Kinsman  John,  &c.  &c.  and  inclosing  one  of  the  Epitha- 
lamiums,  I  must  leave  you  to  the  premeditated  Disposal  of 
the  Divine  Being,  and  subscribe  myself  with  Sentiments  of 
Regard  and  Affection,  your  sincere  Friend,  Wellwisher  and 
humble  Servant.  -  -  G.  Hough.  - 

P.  S.  -  -  My  Dr  Sr  -  -  I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  I  have 
lately  made  a  Contract  with  Mr  London,  of  Fish  Kill,  to  go 
and  work  with  him,  giving  over  all  thoughts  of  going  to 
School:  -  His  offers  were  such  as  not  to  be  rejected  -  -  he 
has  a  grand  Library,  which  he  has  given  me  the  free  use  of, 
so  that  I  am  in  hopes,  by  close  attention  (abandoning  all  rural 
Amusements)  to  make  Proficiency,  at  least  in  the  English 
Language,  in  some  Degree  adequate  to  that  which  I  should 
obtain  by  going  to  School:  -  -  If  you  are  disposed  to  write 
before  my  Exody,  (which  will  be  in  two  or  three  weeks)  you 
will  find  a  ready  conveyance  by  the  post  -  -  by  inquiring  at 
the  Printing-Office  what  time  in  the  week  he  passes  thro'  N. 
Haven.  -  -  I  intend  if  possible,  to  come  thro'  N  Haven  when 
I  go  to  Fish  Kill. 
Mr  Simeon  Baldwin  )  (  ,7  ,  0  ~ 

New  Haven  \       \  Your  s  &c'     G"  H-~ 

Hough's  next  letter,  of  December  19,  1779,  thus  alludes  to 
a  similar  entertainment  at  New  Haven,  in  which  Baldwin 
took  part: 

"I  must  not  forget  to  felicitate  you  on  the  agreeable  dance 
you  had  in  the  evening  previous  to  your  last  Epistle;  I  am 
happy  that  your  situation  affords  you  so  much  pleasure. 

I  promised  in  my  last  to  give  you  an  account  of  proceedings 
at  thanksgiving;  but  as  nothing  material  happened  to  pre 
vent  our  having  an  agreeable  dance,  which  we  surely  had, 
and  it  being  now  near  12  o'clock,  I  shall  suspend  particulariz 
ing  until  I  have  a  more  convenient  opportunity." 


5  2  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

Simeon  Baldwin  was  no  anchorite.  He  enjoyed  the 
pleasures  of  society;  both  at  home  and  while  at  college. 
His  long  vacations  he  spent  largely  in  Bozrah. 

A  letter  from  Air.  Hough,  dated  September  3,  1781,  gives 
this  description  of  a  recent  Norwich  party: 

''Last  week  all  Hands,  (those  of  Airs.  Huntington's  family 
excepted,  not  being  duly  notified)  made  a  tour  over  to  Air 
Josh  Barker's,  I  suppose  to  eat  Walter-Melons;  I  was  there 
myself  in  the  evening,  but  got  none,  -  -  however  I  was  very 
well  entertained  with  a  suppre  of  Aleat  and  Beans,  topped 
off  with  Pyes,  &c.  Good  Cyder  to  wash  down.  -  Crisp 
was  there, 

And  made  his  lyre  with  such  a  scrapering, 
It  set  the  people  all  a  capering. 

1  don't  know  that  I  can  give  you  any  other  idea  of  their 
proceedings,  than  that  they  performed  their  exercise  with 
the  usual  polite  ceremonies:  Alessrs  John  Waterman,  Solo 
mon  Hyde,  &  one  or  two  others,  were  there,  to  put  the  grace 
ui)on  us.  -  We  dispers'd  about  twelve  o'clock  in  perfect 
harmony." 

One  of  Air.  Baldwin's  liveliest  correspondents  was  his 
classmate,  Benjamin  Isaacs,  afterwards  a  merchant  in 
Norwalk. 

In  A I  ay,  1/80,  Air.  Hough  replies  thus  to  a  letter  describ 
ing  the  gayeties  of  Norwich  during  the  preceding  Winter: 

'It  seems  clear  that  you  have  spent  this  frozen  winter 
very  agreeably  -  -  I  must  acknowledge  full  equal  to  my  expec 
tation,  by  your  account :  -  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  and  should 
have  been  consumately  happy  had  1  been  with  you.  -  But 
contrary  winds  I  fear  will  ever  attend  me.  -  I  must  heartily 
congratulate  you  on  your  different  parties  of  pleasure,  espe 
cially  your  first  and  capital  one  -  -  It  was  undoubtedly  grand, 
and  I  flatter  myself  conducted  in  a  manner  well  becoming 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  53 

the  gallant  sons  of  BOZRAH.  -  For  my  part  I  have  taken 
very  little  satisfaction,  except  entertaining  books;  the 
perusal  of  which  has  been  my  principal  employment  at  leisure 
hours.  -  None,  or  very  few,  parties  of  pleasure  are  to  be 
found  in  this  place.  -  The  army  has  so  depopulated  and 
corrupted  it,  that  there  is  no  regulation  among  the  young 
people.  And  on  the  whole  I  begin  to  wish  myself  back 
again.  - 

But  to  return  to  yours.  -  -  I  cannot  pretend  to  answer  every 
particular  circumstance,  though  deserving  it.  Your  ride, 
&c.  to  Cardwell's  seems  to  be  a  principal,  as  well  as  an  agree 
able  one :  And  the  thought  of  having  a  plenty  of  Wine  and 
Ladies,  makes  my  mouth  water.  [[7/0  could  lire  better,  says 
you  ?  Ah !  sure  enough !  -  Let  those  who  can,  despise 
such  living  as  that,  I  say  -  For  my  part  I  desire  no  better. 

Xow  I  come  to  Marriages  --  and  what  shall  I  say  of  your 
Wedding?  Surely  I  cannot  wish  to  have  been  a  sharer  in 
your  disappointment:  No,  by  no  means;  and  I  am  sorry 
people  should  put  so  much  dependance  on  uncertainties.  - 
However,  the  silk  Gowns,  Head-Dresses,  &c.  &c.  which  were 
made  and  altered,  will  be  ready  against  time  of  need;  - 
doubtless  there  will  be  another  soon,  if  courting  is  continued 
with  spirit ;  and  then  what  they  have  done  will  seem  to  be 
clear  gain;  -  But  how  did  the  Ladies,  (and  I  will  venture 
to  say  Gentlemen  too)  conceal  their  chagrin?  Did  they  not 
look  on  the  happy  couple  with  disdain?  -  with  a  scowling 
sneer?  -  Did  they  not  apparently  envy  them  because  they 
married  privately?  -  Methinks  I  see  you  laughing  at  each 
other  with  a  horrid  Grin ;  trying  to  find  one  more  disap 
pointed  than  another :  But  it  is  in  vain,  I  think :  -  Indeed, 
Sir,  in  my  opinion  T  have  the  best  right  to  laugh,  and  that 
without  discrimination  -  -  Ha!  ha!  ha!  -  -  upon  my  word, 
fine  times  there  -  -  have  a  Wedding  in  the  very  heart  of  the 
parish,  and  none  of  you  invited:  Poor  mortals!  -  I  would 
not  be  considered  as  laughing  at  you,  my  dear  Sir;  for  I 
imagine  you  are  pleased  with  the  Joke;  and  are  willing  to 
forego  the  honour  of  an  invitation  (though  you  might  have 
taken  great  pleasure)  to  have  some  few  disappointed:  You 
know  who  I  mean ;  -  therefore  tell  them  from  me,  if  you 


54  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

think  proper,  that  /  pity  them  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart; 
and  would  willingly  comfort  them,  zvas  it  in  my  power/' 

No  copies  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  letters  to  Mr.  Hough  were 
retained,  but  some  notion  of  their  contents  may  be  gained 
from  the  replies  to  them,  including  that  of  August  14,  1780, 
from  which  the  following  extracts  are  made : 

"My  opinion,  Sir,  with  respect  to  Scholars  having  nothing 
to  do  but  to  indulge  themselves  in  slothful  indolence,  is  very 
different  from  most  people's.  I  have  had  sufficient  expe 
rience  in  study  to  convince  me  to  the  contrary.  It  is  a 
tedious  employment,  and  ought  to  be  attended  to  with  the 
greatest  assiduity.  It  does  not,  'tis  true,  exercise  the  body; 
but  the  close  application  of  the  mind  makes  it  extremely 
wearisome  to  the  senses;  -  -  and  when  a  person  is  allowed 
a  little  recess,  he  gladly  embraces  the  opportunity  of  divert 
ing  himself  with  the  amusements  of  the  town  and  a  view 
of  the  surrounding  scenes.  You  do  not,  however,  seem  to 
have  the  least  inclination  to  indulge  yourself  in  diversions 
that  produce  so  little  advantage  in  the  end;  and  indeed  the 
disposition  is  commendable.  It  displays  a  strong  desire  of 
becoming  perfect  in  Literature,  and  gives  your  friends  & 
acquaintances  the  satisfaction  to  hope  you  will  not  only  be 
gratified  to  exhibit  a  part  with  a  respectable  appearance  upon 
the  stage  of  the  world,  but  be  able  to  render  the  most  impor 
tant  services  to  the  whole  community." 

On  January  19,  1781,  Isaacs  writes  from  Xorwalk  that 
he  has  just  returned  from  the  ordination  of  Mr.  John  A  very 
(Yale,  Class  of  1777),  adding: 

"The  exercises  in  general  would  have  been  more  agreeable; 
had  they  been  proportioned  to  the  coldness  of  the  weather. 
A  dance  naturally  ensued  (pretty  good). 

You  flatter  my  vanity  too  much,  to  think  that  the  Ladies 
have  so  great  a  regard  for  me,  I  might  give  some  credit  to 
it,  did  not  I  know  that  your  presence  carries  with  it  the  idea 
of  invincible,  among  the  Ladies,  please  to  return  them  the 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  55 

kiss  of  friendship;  tell  them  that  I  can  note  their  sweetness 
in  imagination." 

The  ordination  was  at  Stamford,  Dr.  Stiles  preaching  the 
sermon,  which  alone  occupied  an  hour  and  a  half.32  No 
stoves,  except  small  foot  stoves  for  elderly  women,  were  then 
used  in  churches. 

Another  letter  from  Isaacs,  written  at  the  close  of  their 
Senior  year,  is  as  follows: 

"Xorwalk,  April  25th,  1781. 
Dear  Sim  - 

After  much  trouble,  I  have  at  length  obtained  all  the 
necessary  ingredients  towards  compassing  a  Letter  except 
invention,  which  I  find  is  considerable  blunted,  by  a  small 
walk,  of  about  14  Miles  (this  I  think  needs  explanation)  I 
have  just  returned  from  Horseneck  which  being  below  the 
Lines,  I  assure  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  I  could 
get  a  permission  to  see  my  Friends;  nor  could  I  get  back, 
unless  I  avoided  the  Guards  by  passing  a  river,  which  could 
not  be  effected  only  by  Shanks  Horse.  O  tempora !  O  mores ! 
I  have  no  news  but  bad.  last  Wednesday  was  brought  into 
N  York  the  ship  Confederacy,  Cap't  Harding,  laden  with 
Sugars  &  clothing  for  the  soldiers  valued  at  50,000  £  Sterling. 
She  surrendered  to  the  Roebuck  of  44  guns  without  firing  a 
Gun.  I  fear  our  Friend  Jesse  is  aboard.  Mason  Cogswell 
has  almost  recovered  his  health  from  a  dangerous  fit  of 
sickness.  I  will  write  no  more  of  news,  since  there  is  no 
merit  in  describing  misfortunes.  Your  Motto  I  would 
answer,  but  your  good  friend  Horace  will  favor  none  but  the 
diligent,  however  T  think  our  productions  are  too  fine  to  be 
compared  with  a  ridiculus  mus. 

Nothing  Sim  troubles  me  so  much  at  present  as  uneasy 
reflections,  especially  those  which  are  derived  from  being 
rob'd  of  the  enjoyments  of  that  society  which  will  be  ever 

32  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  3. 


56  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

most  dear  to  me.  I  was  surprised  that  you  should  be  at  a 
loss  to  know  what  to  write,  for  your  letter  does  not  certainly 
betray  a  want  of  sentiment;  besides  whatever  you  write, 
depend  upon  it  will  be  ever  acceptable.  I  perceive  you  gain 
in  the  art  of  flattery,  but  I  could  wish  you  would  transfer 
it  to  some  other  subject  besides  Gallantry.  As  for  Hinckley 
if  he  is  your  enemy,  I  pity  him,  tho  absence  they  say  is  a 
general  cure  for  love.  For  your  sake  I  am  glad  you  had 
an  opportunity  of  representing  to  my  beloved,  my  departure 
in  those  pathetic  masterly  strokes  of  eloquence,  which  you  are 
sensible  is  your  characteristic.  If  I  could  have  enjoyed  that 
opportunity,  I  assure  you  I  should  have  counted  myself  one 
of  the  torque  qitaterqne  beati;  &  to  have  heard  the  swift 
winged  tongue  of  E— 

Now  I  will  describe  the  music  I  have  been  entertained  with, 
an  old  snorer  keeping  up  a  regular  concert  with  3  or  4 
younger  ones.  Harmony  as  agreeable  as  the  figure  of  Death 
in  Milton  when  he  'grin'd  horribly  a  ghastly  smile.' 

If  I  should  be  so  unfortunate  as  not  to  have  another  oppor 
tunity  before  vacation  (for  I  mean  to  embrace  every  one) 
be  particular  in  writing  concerning  the  examination,  for 
which  T  suppose  you  are  preparing  with  the  utmost  diligence ; 
while  I  am  Satanlike,  walking  to  &  fro  through  the  Earth." 

Some  of  his  correspondents  wrote  in  a  lighter  not  to  say 
reckless  vein.  One  writes  to  him  in  1782  of  the  tedium  of 
life,  with  nothing  to  do, 

"For  to  study  I  have  no  inclination,  to  play  I  am  too  lazy  - 
to  dig  I  cannot,  to  beg,  I  am  ashamed.  .  .  .  But  at 
present  I  have  no  Inclination  for  anything,  for  I  am  almost 
sick  of  the  World  &  were  it  not  for  the  Hopes  of  going  to 
singing-meeting  to  night  &  indulging  myself  a  little  in  some 
of  the  carnal  Delights  of  the  Flesh,  such  as  kissing,  squeez 
ing  &c.  &c.  I  should  willingly  leave  it  now,  before  10  o'clock 
&  exchange  it  for  a  better." 

Another  classmate,  shortly  before  their  graduation,  writes : 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  57 

"In  general  have  gone  on  in  my  old  Course  of  passing  time 
without  much  Improvement  in '  the  Sciences.  Four  years 
will  soon  be  gone.  And  then,  O  then.  What  Shall  I  do?  - 
Without  a  Degree  can  do  Nothing.  And  with  one  Shall  be 
like  Sounding  Brass  and  a  tinkling  Cymbal,  unable  to  parse 
or  even  to  construe  it." 

From  the  first,  Simeon  Baldwin  stood  well  in  scholarship, 
and  he  soon  built  up  quite  a  reputation  as  a  writer  and 
speaker.  At  the  "Quarter"  of  the  Sophomore  class,  in 
June,  1779,  ne  delivered  an  oration  on  the  "Beauties  of 
Nature,"  in  the  chapel,  which  was  less  sophomorical  than 
might  have  been  expected  from  the  subject  chosen.  It  was 
apparently  composed  in  competition  for  a  book  offered  as  a 
prize  by  the  Class  tutor,  Noah  Atwater.  He  was  so  much 
pleased  with  it  that  he  asked  for  a  copy,  and  the  following 
correspondence  ensued : 

"Much  respected  &  learned  Sir 

Agreeable  to  your  desire  I  have  coppied 

&  enclosed  the  Declamation  which  I  wrote  to  obtain  the  pro 
posed  prize  which  you  was  pleased  to  think  worthy  of  your 
perusal.  I  must  acknowledge  that  my  Ambition  was  such 
that  it  did  not  consider  the  Book  itself  as  the  highest  Object 
(Palm)  I  shall  therefore  ever  esteem  that  as  a  present  & 
keep  it  as  a  token  of  that  grateful  remembrance  which  in  duty 
I  owe  to  the  worthy  Donor.  The  Distance  which  our  sit 
uation  at  College  has  placed  between  us  &  which  the  good 
Order  of  College  seems  necessarily  to  require  -  forbid 
that  ease  of  Conversation  &  freedom  of  access  which  would 
otherwise  afford  me  much  pleasure  &  happiness.  Yet  the 
regard  &  Esteem  I  ever  had  for  my  worthy  Tutor  as  such, 
&  the  Obligations  I  owe  for  the  many  kindnesses  received 
not  only  in  helping  me  from  the  Intricate  mazes  of  Science; 
but  such  as  naturally  flow  from  that  spirit  of  philosophy 
which  I  ever  had  the  pleasure  of  beholding  in  my  Instructor, 
must  Apologize  for  my  improving  this  as  an  opportunity 


58  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

to  return  my  Sincere  Thanks  as  a  small  retribution  for  a 
much  larger  Debt.  I  hope  your  kindness  will  [pardon] 
me  the  troble  I  give  you  &  receive  these  expressions  of 
Gratitude  as  the  natural  sentiment  of  my  Heart,  though 
unadorned  with  that  fictitious  Pomp  &  Dazling  Ornaments 
too  often  used  to  glaze  over  the  Deceit  of  flatterers  &  which 
I  know  must  be  disgustful  to  your  more  refined  tast 

Impressed  with  these  Sentiments  it  is  impossible  but  that 
your  happiness  should  ever  be  an  object  high  in  my  View  - 
&  that  your  remaining  residence  at  College  may  be  a  time 
of  more  Pleasure  than  as  yet  it  has  ever  been,  &  when  your 
Profession  calls  you  hence  into  the  Wide  World  may  more 
refined  streams  of  happiness  flow  from  the  exhaustless 
fountain  of  that  Divine  Being  in  whose  Vinyard  you  have 
the  Honor  to  Labour  -  -  this  Worthy  Sr  is  the  Wish  &  earnest 
desire  of  your  most  Obliged  humble  Serv1  &  Pupil 

SB" 

Noah  Atwater  to  Simeon  Baldwin 

"MT  Atwater,  impressed  with  the  pleasing  Idea  of  seeing 
his  Pupils  emprovements  both  in  solid  &  refined  Literature 
as  well  as  their  decency  and  regularity  in  Conduct,  particu 
larly  returns  thanks  to  Baldwin,  S.  S.  for  his  literary  and 
elegant  Production  and  also  for  his  polite  &  respectful  Letter 
which  presented  it." 

Early  in  July  of  that  year,  New  Haven  was  invaded  by  the 
British  troops,  and  Mr.  Baldwin  took  part  with  other  students 
in  a  skirmish  at  Neck  Bridge,  one  of  the  points  at  which 
armed  resistance  was  ofrered. 

In  December,  1779,  when  he  was  a  youth  of  eighteen,  he 
prepared  the  following  argument  for  use  in  a  debate  in  the 
Brothers  in  Unity  on  the  question  "Whether  the  Continental 
Money  ought  to  be  redeemed  according  to  the  face  of  the 
Bill." 

He  argued  for  the  affirmative,  thus : 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  59 

"Perhaps  it  may  be  proper  in  the  first  place  to  refute  some 
of  the  objections  that  may  be  made  against  the  redemption 
of  the  Money,  &  then  offer  a  few  arguments  in  favour  of  it. 

It  may  be  said  the  calling  in  the  money  will  reduce  many 
persons  to  poverty  &  raise  others  to  great  Estates,  who  have, 
by  whatever  means  they  could,  collected  a  considerable  sum 
of  this  money  &  expect  it  paid  to  them  in  Silver.  Again  it 
may  be  said  it  is  utterly  impossible  the  States  would  procure 
a  sufficiency  to  redeem  the  whole  &  therefore  they  had  better 
let  it  sink  than  attempt  it.  To  Answer  these  it  must  be 
considered  in  what  maner  the  currency  is  to  be  redeemed ;  It 
must  certainly  be  by  taxation,  for  as  they  Say  it  is  impossible 
to  procure  enough  by  any  other  Method :  it  will  then  be  at 
the  option  of  the  people  whether  they  will  pay  their  taxes  in 
Silver  or  paper;  if  in  Silver  they  may  reason(ably)  expect 
to  have  their  money  redeemed,  but  if  in  paper,  it  is  already 
done;  this  is  doubtless  the  method  in  which  the  money  will 
be  redeemed.  Here  it  may  be  said  the  heavy  load  of  taxes 
will  able  those  possessed  of  but  little  money  to  dispose  of  their 
effects  at  whatever  price  these  hoarders  of  money  will  please 
to  give  them.  To  this  I  answer  it  ever  was  &  perhaps  ever 
will  be  the  method  of  redeeming  the  money  to  call  in  the  bills 
of  one  emission  first  &  to  declare  them  of  no  Vallue  after 
some  Stated  Term.  This  immediately  induces  the  monied 
man  to  place  his  money  in  any  thing  rather  than  have  it  Sink 
in  his  Hands;  &  now  the  poor  man,  that  wants  Money  to 
pay  his  rate  obtains  whatever  price  he  desires  for  his  effects; 
This,  we  see,  lightens  the  Load  of  one  &  imposes  it  on  the 
other,  who  had  obtained  an  unjust  Estate  by  the  help  of  the 
war  as  is  often  the  Case,  nor  are  these  persons  entirely  free 
from  the  burden,  but  as  is  reasonable  to  suppose  they  must 
have  some  faculty  in  trade  or  they  never  would  have  obtained 
such  an  estate  &  there  is  a  Special  Act  for  rating  persons 
according  to  their  faculty.  again  by  a  late  act  they  are 
rateable  for  the  money  they  have  in  their  Chest,  So  we 
see  these  persons  have  their  proportion  of  the  tax.  Now  is 
it  reasonable  to  suppose  it  will  do  more  justice  to  ruin  one 
half  of  the  people  than  to  preserve  an  equality  among  the 
whole,  for  it  is  evident  if  the  money  is  not  redeemed,  those 


60  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

persons  who  have  their  Estate  in  money  lose  all  at  once,  and 
this  will  immediately  produce  murmurings  &  discontent 
among  the  people  &  perhaps  a  Civil  War,  nor  can  we  suppose 
France  who  own  a  considerable  share  will  remain  quiet,  thus 
we  see  both  from  motives  of  Equity  &  policy,  the  money  ought 
to  be  redeemed,  &  what  is  still  greater  the  plighted  faith  of 
the  Public  which  ought  to  be  kept  pure  as  Virgin  Chastity 
will  be  Violated. 

These  are  Arguments  I  think  not  easyly  surmounted  &  I 
am  sure  will  greatly  overbalance  any  that  can  be  brought 
against  the  redemption  of  the  money." 

Another  argument  was  submitted  by  him  in  July,  1780, 
on  the  question  "Whether  the  Alliance  with  France  will  be 
beneficial  to  the  Inhabitants  of  America." 

He  spoke  for  the  negative,  thus : 

'This  at  first  may  seem  acting  against  the  opinion  of  our 
Learned,  &  the  work  of  our  Legislators.  But  it  is  a  well 
known  Maxim  that 'circumstances  alter  Cases,  &  necessity 
knows  no  Law.  When  the  Inhabitants  of  America  first 
declared  themselves  independent  States  they  were  almost 
entirely  destitute  of  the  Machines  of  War,  not  half  the 
Inhabitants  were  in  possession  of  a  Gun,  nor  had  they  one 
in  store  to  Supply  the  destitute,  or  Skilful  Artificers  to  make 
any!  to  add  to  their  calamity  they  must  contend  with  a 
Nation,  Supporting  a  powerful  Army,  Skilled  in  the  Arts 
&  Arms  well  supplyed  with  the  necesaries  of  war,  sufficient 
discouragements  to  strike  despair  into  any  but  Americans; 
in  this  case  rather  than  lose  our  precious  Liberty,  though 
suspended  by  a  feble  thread,  we  chose  to  offer  our  commerce 
&  beg  the  Alliance  of  some  potent  Nation,  who  could  deliver 
us  from  the  depths  of  difficulty  into  which  we  were  plunged ; 
upon  this  we  immediately  turned  our  Eyes  upon  France,  who 
dazzled  with  the  prospect  of  our  useful  trade  immediately 
signed  our  proposals  £  offred  her  assistance.  This  we  did, 
not  because  we  saw  the  Alliance  would  be  useful  for  the 
future,  but  because  there  was  no  other  Alternative  but  to 
submit  ourselves  to  an  ignominious  Slavery,  or  fetter  our- 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  61 

selves  in  the  chains  of  this  Alliance.  In  this  case  we  chose 
the  latter  as  being  least  of  the  evils,  &  it  will  be  well  if  our 
case  is  not  that  of  the  Horse  in  the  Fable.  Non  Equitem 
Verso,  non  f renum  deputit  Ore.  But  it  may  be  proper,  more 
particularly  to  enquire,  what  were  the  motives  that  induced 
France  so  readily  to  agree  to  the  Alliance.  It  is  evident  that 
a  Nation  so  Subtel,  So  skilled  in  political  affairs,  would  not 
offer  their  assistance  merely  from  compassion,  or  because 
we  asked  them ;  it  must  be  therefore  they  foresaw,  that  the 
Alliance  would  be  attended  with  a  great  Commerce  &  that 
the  balance  would  be  against  us;  that  we  should  send  the 
produce  of  a  fertile  land,  to  exchange  for  their  glittering 
Merchandise,  which  contain  more  show  than  substance;  & 
every  person  must  be  sensible  that  an  extensive  Commerce 
with  France  would  be  disadvantagious  to  America,  because 
she  can  furnish  us  with  nothing,  but  what  we  can  produce 
among  ourselves,  except  her  Vices  &  Religion.  Another 
inducement  she  had,  &  which  is  an  Argument  against  the 
Alliance  is  this,  that  we  are  obliged  to  declare  War  against 
any  Nation  whatever  that  France  shall  call  her  Enemy. 
This  will  again  bring  in  the  horrors  of  War  which  we  very 
sensibly  feel  at  present. 

Though  the  Inhabitants  of  America  will  never  introduce 
the  Popish  Religion  of  ourselves;  yet  the  agreeable  tempera 
ture  of  the  climate,  the  extensiveness  of  her  delightfull  unin 
habited  fields,  with  the  budding  Glory  of  her  rising 
greatness,  added  to  the  Liberty  we  now  enjoy,  &  the  free 
toleration  we  allow,  are  sufficient  invitations  for  those  Popish 
Idolaters  to  spring  to  her  extended  Arms.  This  we  see  is 
a  method  by  which  this  religion  may  be  introduced,  by  means 
of  this  Alliance,  &  when  once  it  has  taken  root;  the  Liberty 
&  Licences  that  are  allowed,  are  so  captivating  it  will  soon 
spread  with  universal  acceptance  among  the  lo(o)ser  &  more 
vitious  part  of  the  People,  &  from  them  to  others  of  more 
note  till  great  part  of  the  Inhabitants  are  tainted  with  it. 

Perhaps  it  may  be  said  in  favour  of  this  Alliance  that  the 
Introduction  of  Forainers  into  America,  will  be  useful  in 
improving  the  Arts  &  Sciences,  &  in  Peopling  the  Land,  & 
consequently  strengthening  it.  To  this  I  answer  that  there 


62  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

are  not  many  Arts  but  what  we  understand  as  well  as  they, 
except  those  of  Luxury  &  debauchery,  in  these  I  acknowl 
edge  they  excell  us.  But  instead  of  Strengthening  the  Land 
they  serve  greatly  to  diminish  it,  which  is  the  natural  conse 
quence  of  Luxury  &  effeminacy. 

There  is  another  disadvantage  attending  the  Introduction 
of  the  French.  We  have  in  truth  many  of  them  already 
with  Military  command  &  posts  of  honor,  &  many  more,  by 
the  insinuating  address  they  are  Masters  of,  will  soon  arrive 
to  still  greater  Power,  till  at  Length  the  constitution  is 
undermined  &  consequently  overthrown,  &  we  reduced  to 
the  ignominy  of  becoming  Vassals  of  our  Allies.  The 
entrusting  Foreiners  with  the  Chief  Power  is  ever  attended 
with  consequences  similar  or  worse  than  these.  Thus  we 
see  the  effect  of  our  so  much  boasted  Alliance,  which  (tho 
I  own  it  was  useful  at  first)  we  see  bringing  on  a  disad 
vantageous  Trade,  the  renewed  horrors  of  War,  the  intro 
ducing  Foreiners  who  deprive  us  of  our  Sacred  rights  & 
Religious  duties,  &  lead  us  on  to  Popery  &  destruction ;  who 
take  away  what  little  Virtue  we  have  &  replace  it  with 
Luxury  &  Debauchery.  &  not  only  this  but  they  deprive  us 
of  our  freedom,  undermine  our  Power,  &  totter  the  State  to 


ruin." 


Early  in  his  Senior  year,  another  secret  society,  to  meet 
fortnightly,  was  established  in  the  College,  by  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  "Connecticut  Alpha  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa/' 
It  was  formed  by  the  initiation,  under  a  charter  from  the 
parent  society  at  William  and  Mary  College,  of  a  number 
of  Seniors  and  Juniors,  together  with  a  few  recent  graduates, 
on  November  13,  1780.  He  was  one  of  its  charter  members, 
and  strong  supporters. 

The  two  following  arguments  he  wrote  in  1781  for  debates 
at  one  or  the  other  of  his  two  societies.  Both,  it  will  be 
observed,  are  on  topics  of  the  day,  and  evince  a  maturity  of 
judgment  not  always  found  in  young  men  of  nineteen. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  63 

The  first  presents  a  question  as  to  the  policy  of  a  law  of 
Connecticut,  adopted  in  May,  1779,  providing  for  the  annual 
election  of  seven  delegates  to  represent  the  State  in  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States. 

"Whether  the  Members  of  Congress  ought  not  to  be  chosen 
by  the  Assembly  instead  of  the  Freemen. 

Negatively 

The  grand  Cause  of  the  present  unhappy  War,  &  the 
Important  Object  we  had  in  View  was  Liberty,  This  has 
already  deprived  many  Individuals  of  Life  &  cost  the  Com 
munity  rivers  of  Blood,  Since  then  the  Object  is  so  dear 
to  us  &  the  price  to  obtain  it  so  very  great,  we  ought  to  use 
evry  possible  method  to  keep  it  in  our  possession,  &  especially 
so  before  the  Bird  is  become  tame  &  enured  to  the  Cage  as 
here  one  false  step  can  never  be  recovered.  The  present 
Time  is  the  most  important  ^Era  that  America  ever  saw, 
She  must  not  only  shake  off  the  shackles  of  slavery  which 
have  allready  been  riveted  upon  her  but  must  found  the 
Bases  on  which  if  rightly  managed  will  probably  subsist 
the  most  important  Empire  that  ever  graced  the  /Era  of 
man.  To  make  this  the  case  we  must  first  fix  our  eyes  on 
Liberty  the  rise  &  support  of  the  grandeur  of  all  Nations 
nor  must  any  of  our  measures  interfere  with  this,  &  there 
is  no  time  that  a  State  is  in  so  much  Danger  as  in  her  Infancy. 
Her  inexperience  will  then  expose  her  to  the  Designs  of  any 
Insinuating  Intruders,  whose  Lust  for  Dominion  will  grow 
upon  them  as  their  Power  increases.  This  is  a  general  fault 
of  mankind  into  which  the  best  are  liable  to  fall  that  their 
Desire  whether  of  riches  or  Power  increases  in  proportion 
to  what  they  possess.  From  this  thought  it  appears  evident 
that  we  cannot  be  too  cautious  especially  in  our  first  setting 
out  in  trusting  any  set  of  men  with  too  much  Power,  nothing 
is  more  dangerous  to  the  Liberty  of  the  State  than  this.  In 
the  present  case  part  of  the  Power  is  in  the  Hands  of  the 
people  &  the  question  is  whether  it  would  not  be  better  for 
them  to  give  it  to  a  set  of  Men,  who  have  already  as  much  as 
they  can  manage  with  Dignity.  The  Question  in  itself  con- 


64  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

sidered  would  appear  of  little  moment,  but  if  we  look  at  the 
Consequence  we  shall  find  them  important  if  considered  in  no 
other  view  than  the  tendency  it  has  to  support  our  Liberty. 
If  we  give  up  our  choice  of  Election  in  this  grand  Court  of 
America  —  we  deprive  ourselves  of  one  of  the  most  important 
Pillars  which  support  our  Liberty. 

Many  Plead  that  it  ought  to  be  \vith  the  Assembly,  as  they 
are  better  acquainted  with  the  most  eminent  characters  in 
the  State,  but  ours  is  not  so  large  but  that  the  Fame  of  those 
who  are  proper  persons  to  join  such  an  August  Body  \vill 
soon  be  spread  over  the  whole  either  by  actions  when  per 
sonally  present,  or  the  Information  not  only  of  Delegates 
but  of  others  who  know  them.  The  Power  of  Bribes  & 
Insinuation  cannot  be  half  so  effectual  over  the  People,  when 
spread  over  the  whole  State,  as  over  a  small  proportion  of 
them  who  are  confined  to  one  House.  Here  also  the  wrongly 
applyed  Power  of  some  Statesmen  will  have  a  much  greater 
effect  than  over  the  people  at  large.  To  this  we  may  add 
(that)  the  uneasiness  of  the  People  which  will  necessarily 
attend  it  &  be  productive  of  much  unhappiness  to  the  Com 
munity  ought  to  be  considered  a  weighty  Argument." 

"Whether  it  would  be  for  the  Advantage  of  America  to 
accept  the  Articles  of  Peace  said  to  be  proposed  at  Madrid 
between  the  belligerent  Powers  of  Europe  £  America. 

The  prospect  of  a  desired  peace  to  a  Nation  weary  with 
war  is  so  captivating  to  the  people  in  general  that  they  fre 
quently  drink  many  bitter  swallows  to  obtain  the  desired 
Draught.  This  war  makes  us  fearful  lest  there  remain  some 
bitter  Dreg  which  lies  hid  even  in  the  most  favourable  pro 
posals  &  warns  us  carefully  to  examin  before  we  use  them: 
to  do  this  in  the  present  case  it  seems  necessary  to  consider 
what  was  the  cause  of  the  war  &  what  our  Object  in  con 
tinuing  it.  The  two  principal  Objects  mankind  have  in 
view  in  making  war  are  Liberty  or  extent  of  territory,  the 
latter  of  these  cannot  be  ours  as  we  have  now  extent  of 
Country  much  too  large  for  our  husbandmen  to  cultivate; 
or  our  Arms  secure.  What  advantage  can  we  flatter  our 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  65 

selves  as  arising  from  the  addition  of  the  Floridas  in  the 
South  or  the  frozen  deserts  in  the  North  to  our  extended 
republic  which  is  now  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  the  world  — 
The  strength  of  kingdoms  arises  not  so  much  from  the  extent, 
or  the  number  of  People  as  from  unanimity,  the  prospect  of 
which  decreases  in  proportion  as  the  extent  increases  —  & 
it  is  impossible  they  should  become  formidable  to  us  till  those 
States  have  reached  their  meridian  of  Glory  since  they  are 
now  much  our  inferiors  &  the  increase  of  population  in  the 
United  States  is  certainly  equeal  &  perhaps  more  rapid  than 
with  them  Upon  the  whole  we  have  obtained  from  these 
proposals  all  that  we  have  ever  demanded  of  Man  or  asked 
of  Heav'n.  Liberty  was  the  darling  object  in  persuit  & 
we  have  obtained  this  by  being  declared  free  &  independent 
of  all  other  Nations  of  the  World.  When  the  proposals 
are  satisfactory  to  our  selves  the  next  thing  to  be  considered 
is  whether  they  do  not  militate  with  the  Honour  &  Integrity 
of  our  Allies.  Their  design  in  entering  the  war  was 
undoubtedly  to  support  the  Cause  of  injured  Inocence  & 
humble  the  pride  of  Britain  their  enemy,  in  each  of  these 
particulars  they  have  gained  their  point.  They  have 
humbled  the  pride  of  their  insolent  foe  &  our  Cause  has  been 
supported  &  prospered  even  beyond  our  most  sanguine 
expectations  increase  of  Dominion  they  never  demanded, 
all  they  asked  in  return  for  their  kindness  was  the  profit  of 
our  Trade  &  Alliance.  Thus  the  advantages  arising  from 
this  proposed  Peace,  even  if  we  set  aside  some  small  conces 
sions  whh  have  been  made  such  as  the  St  John, 
&  the  cod  fishery  -  -  is  much  in  favour  of  &  indeed  all  that 
could  be  demanded  by  our  Allies,  as  well  as  our  selves.  Can 
we  then  hesitate  one  moment  before  we  put  an  end  to  the 
desolation  of  the  war  which  has  already  drank  the  blood  of 
so  many  of  our  hopeful  youth  -  The  war  is  already  become 
burdensome  -  -  our  resources  are  small  -  -  much  too  small 
to  become  aggrassors,  which  we  certainly  must  if  we  neglect 
the  present  honourable  proposals  -  our  Debt  is  already  too 
large  for  our  small  revenue,  &  to  think  of  entailing  the  need 
less  (cost)  upon  our  posterity  &  thus  deprive  them  of  bless 
ings  of  that  Liberty  they  nominally  possess,  The  needless 


66  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

expence  of  a  War  which  at  best  would  produce  but  a  few 
trifling  acquisitions  would  be  injustice  indeed.  I  might  here 
add  that  when  we  look  forward  &  contemplate  the  happy 
prospect  that  lies  before  us  &  see  that  the  beauty  &  utility 
of  evry  notable  fabric  depends  on  the  foundation,  which  is 
laid  in  the  beginning  -  -  it  will  evidently  appear  that  the 
blessings  of  peace  are  necessary  to  establish,  &  regulate, 
that  happy  form  of  government,  whh  is  to  be  the  Basis  on 
whh  shall  exist  the  rising  greatness  &  future  grandieur  of 
the  most  extensive  republic  in  the  world  -  -  &  which  in  our 
infant  State  is  incompatible  with  the  din  of  Arms  &  the 
horrors  of  civil  war." 

Mr.  Baldwin  in  his  Senior  year  was  elected  President  of 
the  Brothers  in  Unity.  His  inaugural  address,  which  in  tone 
is  much  like  the  "Statement  of  Facts"  speeches  of  fifty 
years  later,  was  as  follows: 

"My  Friends  &  Brethren 

Considering  the  Laudable  Motives  which  have  induced 
us  to  Spend  the  most  happy  Part  of  our  Lives  in  the  Walls 
of  Yalensia,  to  debar  ourselves  of  the  pleasures  &  Amuse 
ments  of  youth,  which  others  of  our  Companions  are  enjoy 
ing,  we  ought  to  use  evry  Possible  method  to  render  them 
effectual. 

What  can  be  more  praiseworthy,  or  what  can  redound 
more  to  the  Honor  of  any  Person  than  to  have  it  told  of 
him  that  he  had  imployed  those  hours  (which  others  throw 
away  in  wanton  Amusements)  in  such  a  maner  as  to  render 
the  future  Period  of  his  life  an  agreeable  Scene  of  Pleasure 
&  Profit  to  those  around  him.  The  Quarels  &  Contentions 
of  Mankind  he  settles  with  unanimity  &  Concord,  or  to  those 
who  are  wracked  with  the  most  cruteating  Pains  of  Body 
he  brings  ease  &  health ;  or  what  is  still  more  Noble,  to  the 
Sinful  Points  out  the  road  to  that  Stream  of  Happiness  which 
never  fails,  &  the  unparralleled  Torments  that  shall  attend 
him  through  the  boundless  Eternity  provided  he  does  not 
strive  to  enter  it.  What  Laudable  Professions  are  these  & 
how  worthy  of  our  unweried  application  to  obtain!  And 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  67 

it  is  impossible  to  obtain  them  to  any  Degree  of  Perfection 
without  it.  Either  of  them  require  the  strict  attention  of 
many  a  laborious  Hour.  Thus  we  see  that  the  whole  Glory 
of  our  future  progress  in  Life  depends  much  on  our  improv 
ing  our  time  well  before  we  set  out  upon  the  toilsome  Jour 
ney  -  A  Journey  in  which  we  need  all  the  experience  of 
the  Aged,  &  all  the  advice  of  the  most  intimate  friends  joined 
to  the  most  consummate  knowledge  of  our  own.  To  obtain 
these  several  advantages  our  Predecessors  in  this  Academy 
had  recourse  to  that  wise  Scheme  of  Instituting  perticular 
Societies  both  for  the  Improvement  in  Literature  &  Increas 
ing  our  Intimacy  by  more  near  &  indering  connections  than 
we  should  otherwise  have  which  we  hope  &  trust  will  not 
be  confined  to  our  short  residence  at  this  happy  Seat  of  the 
Muses  but  extend  itself  through  the  whole  Course  of  our 
future  Life  -  The  Society  to  which  we  have  the  Happiness 
to  become  members  was  founded  about  the  Year  1768  by  a 
very  few  Persons  from  each  of  the  Classes.  There  were 
at  that  Time  two  other  Meetings  in  being,  the  Linonian  & 
Critonian,  one  of  which  has  since  been  entirely  dissolved. 
The  founders  of  ours  had  the  happiness  to  be  entirely 
acquainted  with  the  Constitution  of  both  the  others,  some  of 
them  having  been  members  themselves.  This  we  readily 
see  enabled  them  to  form  a  third  still  more  perfect  than 
either,  making  whatever  extracts  they  pleased  from  those 
to  which  they  belonged  &  adding  to  that  whatever  their 
inventive  Genii  thought  proper  A  perticular  History  of 
these  things,  &  of  the  sufferings  it  underwent  in  its  infancy 
vvould  be  too  tedious  for  your  Patience  to  endure.  I  cannot 
however  omit  mentioning  that  Secrecy  alone  was  its  sup- 
fort  for  near  a  Year ;  so  fearful  were  they  of  its  being  known 
that  they  procured  a  room  in  Town  &  held  their  exercises 
there  during  the  whole  Summer,  And  after  it  was  discov 
ered,  they  bravely  suffered  every  thing  that  the  combined 
malevolence  of  the  two  others  could  invent.  There  was  one 
Instance  in  perticular  that  a  Meeting  was  held  by  the  two 
under  Classes,  &  it  being  made  known  to  the  other  Meetings, 
they  came  in  the  most  impolite  &  even  brutal  maner  & 
ordered  the  freshmen  present  to  disperse,  &  a  noble  refusal, 


68  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

which  they  unanimously  made,  caused  much  trouble  to  them 
selves  &  loss  to  those  who  assisted  them.  What  unparalleled 
brutality!  how  beneath  the  Character  of  those  who  make 
learning-  their  pursuit!  But  so  far  were  these  Distresses 
from  procuring-  the  ruin  of  this  Society,  that  it  seemed  like 
the  propagation  of  the  Prodestant  religion,  to  increase  from 
the  Blood  of  evry  Martyr,  and  within  the  Course  of  8  or  9 
Years  it  arose  to  that  degree  of  Glory  &  Magnificence  as  to 
far  exceed  their  haughty  opposers,  &  though  the  number  of 
members  is  not  so  large,  yet  other  things,  of  more  importance 
considered,  I  can  with  pleasure  assure  myself  we  see  it  so 
at  preasent  &  in  such  a  Condition  it  is  that  I  have  the  pleasure 
to  Address  you  which  I  beg  you  would  suffer  me  to  do  with 
the  freedom  due  to  a  Member  of  this  Society,  suffer  me  to 
implant  within  you  if  you  have  not  them  already  the  Seads 
of  Ambition  &  let  the  example,  the  fortitude  with  the  Pro 
ficiency  our  Predecessors  have  made,  excite  every  spark  of 
Emulation,  &  blow  it  up  into  a  shining  flame  that  it  may  run 
through  every  action,  &  make  them  team  with  a  laudable 
thirst  for  honor  &  preferment. 

Semented  as  we  are  in  the  bonds  of  brotherly  Union  and 
Interist  and  prosperity  of  the  Society  is  no  less  than  the 
interest  &  prosperity  of  every  Individual  whose  combined 
Characters  compose  of  the  whole.  Let  this  thought  arouse 
our  Ambition  if  not  out  of  regard  to  the  good  &  honour  of 
the  Society  at  least  from  principles  of  self  Love  &  Interest 
which  evry  one  possesses,  to  use  evry  possible  motive  that 
is  conducive  to  its  happiness.  We  have  evry  advantage  in 
our  Power  there  is  nothing  wanting  but  resolution  to  enable 
us  to  become  the  beauty  &  ornament  not  only  of  this  society 
of  united  Brethren  but  of  Yalensia  herself. 

Can  one  of  you  enumerate  a  single  perticular  in  which 
our  rivals  (if  I  may  so  call  them)  have  the  Advantage. 
What  do  their  boasted  Numbers  avail  them?  Why  as  Cir 
cumstances  are  they  are  the  greatest  Curse  that  can  befal 
them,  both  with  respect  to  the  profit  that  they  can  receive 
from  the  exercises  &  the  advantage  arising  from  the  Library 
which  does  not  contain  more  Vollums  than  ours  &  conse 
quently  cannot  be  so  useful  to  them  as  ours  to  us.  I  may 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  69 

add  to  this  that  putting  their  whole  trust  in  their  Numbers 
they  have  evry  accomplishment  necessary  to  adorn  them, 
while  we,  continually  alarmed  at  the  prospect,  &  fearful  of 
our  final  Disolution,  strain  evry  Nerve  &  call  forth  evry 
Virtuous  Passion  to  our  aid.  And  if  we  proceed  in  this 
maner  we  never  need  fear  the  Calumnies  &  Malevolent 
reproaches  of  our  exasperated  oppose (r)s;  they  are  but  thin 
Veils,  which  only  excite  the  Curiosity  of  evry  considerate 
beholder  &  the  latent  Virtue  of  the  one  &  Malevolent  dis 
position  of  the  other  will  be  easily  discovered.  Let  this 
therefore  remind  us  not  to  indulge  ourselves  in  similar 
Calumnies,  for  though  they  may  deceive  at  first  they  will 
soon  redound  with  Interest  on  our  own  heads. 

The  Presidency  of  so  honourable  a  Society  as  this  I  con 
sider  an  honor  to  any  one  who  is  capable  of  sustaining  it  &  I 
can  wish  both  for  my  own  honor  &  that  of  the  Meeting  which 
I  have  much  at  heart  that  I  was  better  able  to  do  it.  My 
Obligations  for  this  honor  I  am  sensible  are  great  &  I  can 
think  of  no  method  to  manifest  them  more  sensibly  than  by 
using  my  utmost  Abilities  to  promote  its  Interest  &  pros 
perity.  You  must  not  think  however  that  this  is  intirely 
dependent  on  those  in  Office:  it  is  in  your  own  Breasts  & 
entirely  depend  on  your  resolution  &  Industry,  to  which  you 
may  be  assured  we  will  with  the  greatest  Pleasure  add  our 
Assistance  as  far  as  it  extends.  Suffer  me  then,  my  Breth 
ren,  once  more  to  intreat  you  with  ardour  to  call  forth  evry 
Spark  of  emulation,  with  the  whole  force  of  your  Ambition, 
&  promote  their  progress  by  a  steady  &  diligent  attendance 
on  the  exercises  of  the  Meeting  in  which  we  are  much 
deficient,  let  us  allay  them  with  Secresy,  whh  is  the  support 
of  the  whole,  &  join  them  all  in  the  Bonds  of  Brotherly  Union 
which  we  possess  &  I  doubt  not  but  in  a  short  time  we  shall 
again  &  again  hear  the  impartial  World  pronounce  us 
Victorious." 

Occasional  correspondence  with  Mr.  Porter  had  been  kept 
up  in  a  desultory  fashion,  until  the  middle  of  his  Senior  year. 
Mr.  Porter's  letters  were  about  nothing,  and  longer  than 


70  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

that  required.  He  was  six  years  the  elder,  and  there  was 
little  going  on  at  Hartford  to  interest  a  Norwich  student  at 
Yale.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter  from  him  of 
March  17,  1781,  indicates  that  Mr.  Baldwin  has  become 
wearied  of  the  burden  of  exchanging  letters  with  one  so  far 
removed  in  place  and  interests: 

"I  think  you  was  very  clever  in  your  observations  on  the 
effects  of  our  Correspondence,  tho  rather  in  the  complimen- 
ing  way;  and  in  answer  I  must  tell  you,  were  I  as  capable 
of  giving,  as  you  of  receiving  instruction,  or  of  receiving, 
as  you  of  giving  'twould  be  no  small  additional  Inducement 
to  maintaining  and  promoting  so  agreeable  and  usefull  an 
Intercourse.  -  Tamcn  his  omissis,  satis  est  practerea  - 

Your  proposing  some  point  of  Learning  and  especially 
Philosophy  as  a  substituted  Topic  would  be  very  agreeable, 
were  it  not  that  those  who  were  never  professed  adepts,  and 
have  long  since  retired  from  a  philosophical  course  of  studies, 
ought  to  be  extremely  careful  of  expressing  their  disserta 
tions  on  what  they  are  so  little  acquainted  with ;  yet  my  entire 
confidence  in  your  Friendship  and  benevolent  Disposition  to 
cover  rather  than  expose  my  weaknesses  will  induce  me  to 
the  utmost  freedom  in  observations  on  any  of  the  questions 
agitated  in  the  Schools  of  our  Times  — ,  .  .  .  Your 
different  allotments  of  your  Time,  I  dare  say  are  not  only 
amusing,  but  very  useful,  &  I  think  you  may  well  claim  the 
Indulgence  of  one  Evening  with  the  Ladies  as  you  requested, 
but  pray  Sir  in  your  next  give  me  some  farther  account  of 
your  0"K  B 

In  his  Junior  year  he  occupied  room  12  on  the  west  side 
of  Connecticut  Hall,  and  was  able  to  earn  a  little  money 
towards  his  College  expenses  by  receiving  from  the  Presi 
dent,  first  an  appointment  as  third  waiter  at  the  College 
Commons,  and  then  as  one  of  the  two  monitors  for  his  class.33 
He  also,  during  both  that  and  the  following  year,  besides 

33  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  384,  428. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  7  r 

attending  to  his  regular  work  in  College,  earned  something 
substantial  by  teaching  school  in  New  Haven.  During  his 
Senior  year  he  roomed  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Beers. 

In  a  letter  written  in  March,  1781,  he  describes  the  employ 
ment  of  his  time,  thus: 

"My  School  employs  6  good  hours  which,  with  attendance 
on  meals  &  College  exercises,  consumes  most  of  the  day.  The 
evening  I  spend  as  follows;  every  other  Monday  in  the 
exercises  of  the  4>  B  K,  a  Society  newly  founded ;  Thursdays 
on  the  B  U;34  Fridays  till  n  o'clock  in  Thesis  correcting,  & 
Saturday  is  not  for  study." 

Throughout  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  public  Com 
mencements  of  the  College  were  omitted.  After  the  return 
of  peace,  they  were  resumed  on  September  12,  1781.  This 
action  of  the  "corporation"  was  taken  after  the  presentation 
of  the  following  petition,  which  Mr.  Baldwin  drew : 

"To  the  Reverend  &  President  &  Corporation  -  -  the  peti 
tion  of  the  Senior  Class. 

Reverend  &  honoured  Gentlemen      Sirs 

The  calamitous  situation  of  our 

unhappy  Land  &  the  gloomy  prospect  whh  overspread  it  at 
the  commencement  of  the  present  War  were  such  that  it  very 
justly  diverted  the  candid  Mind  from  pursuing  those  inno 
cent  diversions  &  Amusements  which  at  other  times  would 
be  both  just  &  Laudable.  At  that  time  it  seemed  reasonable 
and  proper  that  the  public  exercises  of  this  Society  &  the 
parade  attending  it  should  be  laid  aside,  but  this  we  conceive 
was  only  temporarily  &  that  it  was  the  design  of  our  worthy 
Governors  to  resume  them  as  soon  as  the  situation  of  our 
public  affairs  would  permit,  &  not  let  such  a  stimulus  to 
Literature  be  deprived  of  its  effect.  The  expence  attending 
a  public  commencement  has  hitherto  been  a  weighty  objec 
tion  against  it,  but  we  humbly  conceive  that  the  honour  of 
College  will  not  require  an  expence  at  the  present  Time 

84  Brothers  in  Unity. 


7  2  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

greater  if  equal  to  what  was  usual  in  time  of  peace  -  we 
are  willing  &  desirous  to  retrench  much  of  that  needless 
expence  which  was  heretofore  made  -  -  &  shall  be  contented 
with  the  restriction  which  the  more  mature  judement  of  our 
Learned  Governors  shall  think  proper  to  make  Were  all 
to  attempt  to  show  the  honour  which  would  redound  to  this 
society  &  those  that  have  the  management  of  it,  or  did  we 
endeavour  to  point  out  the  incitement  to  ambition  whh  such 
exhibitions  produce  -  -  we  are  sensible  it  would  but  be  dic 
tating  to  better  judgement  -  Impressed  with  these  senti 
ments  &  having  the  honour  of  College  much  at  heart,  we 
are  unanimous  in  making  this  Petition  which  is  our  earn 
est  request  to  &  that  they  would  give  us  the  honour  of 
.exhibiting  to  the  world  the  acquirements  which  we  have 
obtained  from  our  residence  at  this  Society 

This  honoured  Sirs  is  our  prayer  &  petition,  which  we  cant 
but  hope  &  trust  if  considered  with  your  usual  wisdom  & 
Candour  will  be  granted. 

f  Committee  of  the 
(      Senior  Class" 

To  Mr.  Baldwin  was  assigned  the  salutatory  oration  in 
Latin  at  the  Commencement. 

Isaacs,  who  was  at  the  same  time  put  down  for  a  syllogistic 
disputation,  writes  him  from  Norwalk  on  August  6  of  that 
year: 

"Take  care  that  the  Physicians  in  curing  the  epidemical 
disorder  of  your  Oration,  don't  cut  &  slash,  at  such  an 
unmerciful  rate,  as  they  did  my  poor  Thesis ;  for  if  they  do, 
depend  upon  it,  it  will  never  recover  its  former  health." 

There  were  very  few  alterations  suggested  by  the  tutor 
who  revised  it,  in  the  manuscript  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  oration. 

In  the  course  of  it,  this  compliment  is  paid  to  Franklin,  in 
commenting  on  electric  science : 

"Huic  studio  maxime  profuerunt  Experimenta  clarissimi 
nostri  Americani  FRANKLIN:  Hac  scientia,  horribilis  visus, 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  73 

coeli  nubiferi  crebris  fulgoribus  erubescentes  turn  tonitru 
pervolventi  crepitantis  naturae  legibus  explicari  potest,  et 
naturam  virgula  metallica,  cujus  auxilio  vim  incredibilem 
facile  evitamus."35 

When  the  speaker  came  to  President  Stiles  he  declared  that 

"Favore  Providentiae,  nubes  tenebrosa,  pristinum  academiae 
fulgorem  obscurans,  dispersa  fuit,  te  inaugurate/ 


"36 


Allusion  was  made  to  the  absence  of  Governor  Trumbull, 

"cujus  examplo,  tarn  diu,  et  tarn  eximie  praefecturae  potien- 
dae  supremae,  in  omnibus  soliis  XIII  Statuum,  non  habetur 
simile  vel  secundum."37 

The  officers  of  instruction  were  each  addressed  in  turn, 
Senior  Tutor  Atwater,  who  had  had  the  Senior  Class  mainly 
under  his  charge  and  retired  at  this  Commencement,  as 
"Tutor  noster  proprius  et  eruditissimus."  The  other  Tutors 
were  greeted  collectively  as  "Domini  edocti,"  worthy  of 
praise,  "singulorum  quamvis  vestrum  discipuli  nunquam 
fuerimus."38 

35  For  this  study  the  experiments  of  our  most  distinguished  Ameri 
can  FRANKLIN  have  been  especially  advantageous.  By  this  science,  the 
horrible  sight  of  a  cloud-bearing  sky  reddening  with  frequent  flashes, 
then  rattling  with  fast  flying  thunder,  can  be  explained  by  the  laws  of 
nature  and  (one  can  control)  nature,  by  a  metallic  rod,  with  the  aid  of 
which  we  easily  avoid  incredible  force. 

J6  By  the  favor  of  Providence  a  darksome  cloud,  obscuring  the 
pristine  brightness  of  our  academy,  was  dispersed,  when  you  were 
inaugurated. 

37  To  whose  example  of  so  long  and  so  well  receiving  the  supreme 
power  of  government,  there  is  nothing  in  all  the  lands  of  the  Thirteen 
States,  similar  or  second. 

J8  Learned  Masters  .  .  .  although  we  have  never  been  disciples 
of  yours  individually. 


74  Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate 

This  salutatory  oration  was  three  or  four  times  as  long  as 
such  addresses  came  to  be,  before  they  were  finally  aban 
doned.  It  could  only  have  been  endured  because  spoken 
Latin  was  more  generally  understood  in  the  eighteenth  than 
in  the  nineteenth  century. 

After  seven  quarto  pages  given  to  the  arts  and  sciences, 
the  audience  were  thus  cheered : 

"Non  amplius  auditores,  Lingua  multis  incognita,  patien- 
tiam  abuteremur,  ni  ut  praeceptores  nostros  salutaremus."39 

Six  pages  more  came  then  closing  thus : 

"Patientiam,  auditores,  paulisper  rogamus  dummodo  prox- 
imi  verbi  Dei  ministros  et  ecclesiarum  Pastores  reverenter 
salutamus."40 

It  took  three  pages  more  to  wind  up,  including  a  warm 
tribute  to  those  present  who  had  distinguished  themselves  in 
aiding  their  country's  cause,  "foro,  atq:  senatu  quiq:  in 
Exercitu  americano  federatoq:  WASHINGTONIANO/MI 

This  old-time  salutatory,  with  which  the  commencement 
exercises  were  opened,  stands  out  in  sharp  contrast  with  the 
modern  spirit  and  tone  of  the  valedictory  poem  with  which 
they  were  closed.  This  was  written  by  Joel  Barlow,  who, 
one  is  pleased  to  read  in  Stiles'  Diary,  "was  clapped" — the 
only  applause  won  by  any  of  those  who  took  part  in  the 
performances  of  the  day.42  His  look  was  forward. 

39 1  will  not  further,  my  hearers,  abuse  your  patience  in  a  language 
unknown  to  many,  save  to  salute  our  preceptors. 

40 1  ask,  my  hearers,  your  patience  for  a  short  time  while  next 
reverently  I  salute  the  ministers  of  the  word  of  God  and  pastors  of 
churches. 

41  In  public  speech  and  in  council,  and  in  the  American  and  con 
federated  army  of  Washington. 

42  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  556. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  an  Undergraduate  75 

Universal  peace  was  predicted,  and  for  the  college,  grow 
ing  prosperity. 

"Yalensia's  friends  shall  thus  attend  her  call, 
And  youths  unnumbered  bless  the  favorite  wall. 
And  tho'  thou  seest  the  rage  of  slaughter  roll, 
And  different  views  thy  wayward  race  controul, 
Tho'  still  oppos'd  their  interest,  and  their  laws, 
And  every  sceptre  leads  a  different  cause, 
Yet  thro'  the  whole  the  same  progressive  plan, 
Which  draws,  for  mutual  succour,  man  to  man, 
From  men  to  tribes,  from  tribes  to  nations  spreads, 
And  private  ties  to  public  compact  leads, 
Shall  rise  by  slow  degrees,  and  still  extend, 
Their  power  their  interest  and  their  passions  blend, 
Their  wars  grow  milder,  policies  enlarge, 
Increasing  nations  feel  the  general  charge, 
Form  broad  alliances  for  mutual  aid, 
Mingle  their  manners  and  extend  their  trade, 
Till  each  remotest  realm,  by  friendship  join'd, 
Link  in  the  chain  and  harmonize  mankind, 
The  union'd  banner  be  at  last  unfurl'd, 
And  wave  triumphant  round  the  accordant  world." 


CHAPTER  III 
LIFE  AT  YALE,  AS  A  RESIDENT  GRADUATE 

It  was  not  uncommon  in  the  eighteenth  century  for  bache 
lors  of  arts  to  remain  at  the  College,  pursuing  advanced 
studies  or  engaged  in  general  literary  cultivation,  until  they 
became  entitled  to  receive  the  degree  of  M.A.  in  course.  To 
encourage  this  practice  the  statutes  of  the  State  exempted 
from  capitation  taxes  "the  President  and  Tutors  of  the 
College  School,  School  masters,  and  Students  of  the  College 
until  the  Expiration  of  the  Time  for  taking  their  Second 
Degree."1 

His  graduation  found  Mr.  Baldwin  quite  unsettled  as  to 
his  plan  of  life.  One  thing  was  certain.  He  must  at  once 
do  something  for  his  support.  His  father  had  helped  him 
to  a  liberal  education.  Now  he  must  turn  it  to  immediate 
account,  in  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence. 

The  readiest  way  was  to  keep  on  with  the  school  at  New 
Haven,  of  which  he  had  taken  charge  during  the  preceding 
year,  and  this  he  did ;  registering  also  as  a  graduate  student 
in  the  College. 

He  declined  an  offer  made  him  early  in  1782,  to  become  the 
schoolmaster  of  the  "Brick  Schoolhouse"  at  Norwich,  at  a 
salary  of  £120.  His  father  advised  against  its  acceptance, 
believing  that,  in  teaching  school  in  New  Haven,  he  would  be 
enjoying  greater  advantages. 

He  was  fond  of  society,  as  well  as  of  books,  and  he  found 
both  at  his  hand,  there,  as  a  resident  graduate.  He  also  had 
more  leisure  for  correspondence,  and  wrote  often  to  his 
closest  friends. 

1  Stat.,  Ed.  of  1769,  136. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  a  Resident  Graduate  77 

On  March  26,  1782,  he  writes  to  his  classmate,  Isaacs: 

"I  have  just  come  from  an  agreeable  Circle  at  the  presi 
dent's,  where,  I  assure  you,  we  have  spent  a  very  agreeable 
Hour  -  I  waited  till  most  of  the  dolefull  company  were 
gone,  that  I  might  leave  the  rest  with  the  decent  &  desirable 
Ceremony  -  &  as  the  blushing  Corporal  in  Tristam  Shandy 
let  fall  a  tear  of  sentimental  bashf ulness  -  -  another  to  Unkle 
Toby  -  -  which,  with  one  for  his  brothers  misfortunes,  ran 
together  down  his  Cheek,  so  I  selected  a  Happy  Kiss  from 
the  rest,  &  told  the  subject  of  it  that  I  intended  it  for  you  — 
the  whole  Circle  join  in  their  Compliment  to  you." 

He  had  plenty  of  opportunities  to  gratify  his  love  for  danc 
ing.  Besides  informal  gatherings  of  young  people  at  their 
own  houses,  and  the  grand  Commencement  ball  at  the  State 
House,  each  Quarter-day  brought  its  dance,  and  these  some 
times  lasted  until  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  A  regular 
dancing  school  was  set  up  in  New  Haven  in  the  Winter  of 
1781-2.  It  did  not  meet  with  universal  approval.  The  town 
was  divided  in  sentiment  as  to  whether  public  balls  and  danc 
ing  schools  should  be  permitted  or  encouraged.  President 
Stiles  was  not  unfavorably  inclined  to  them.  In  February 
a  large  number  of  students  asked  his  consent  to  their  taking 
dancing  lessons,  and  he  gave  it  to  about  seventy-five.  They 
were  to  be  taken  "in  town"  in  the  evening,  and  Thursday 
afternoons,  "but  not  to  interrupt  any  college  exercises."  His 
own  son  was  one  of  them,  and  two  of  his  daughters  also 
attended  the  school.2  In  his  diary  are  these  entries : 

"March  7.    A  great  Noise  about  the  Dancing  School.    Meet8 
of  Select  Men  &  Civil  Authy    .    .    . 

March  12.    Great  dissatisfaction  about  the  School  of  polite 
manners,  called  the  Dancing  School." 

2  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  10,  n. 


78  Life  at  Yale,  as  a  Resident  Graduate 

From  the  selectmen  and  civil  authority  the  matter  went  up 
to  a  town  meeting.  When  the  controversy  was  nearing  its 
conclusion,  Mr.  Baldwin  wrote  to  Isaacs  as  follows,  on 
March  29,  1782: 

"Our  Dancing  School,  for  I  suppose  you  know  we  have 
one,  has  become  the  subject  of  Paper  wars,  Political  Debates 
&  Tea  table  Chittchat,  I  assure  you,  Benne,  you  cant  con 
ceive  the  wisdom  of  our  young  Solomons  upon  this  mighty 
matter;  it  will  this  day  I  suppose  be  altercated  before  the 
venerable  Town-meeting;  as  soon  as  I  learn  the  result,  I'll 
send  it. 

Last  Fryday  we  Celebrated  the  Aniversary  of  the  B  U.3 
Robbins  had  an  oration  -  -  very  fine—  BusyBody  was  the 
Com.,  acted  well  -  -  Chronon  came  on  in  the  evening  and  I 
assure  you  was  very  droll  the  Mourning  Bride  ended  the 
exercises  D  G.  master  of  Ceremonies." 

The  town  carried  the  day  against  the  gown,  and  a  few 
days  later  President  Stiles  thus  noted  the  end  of  the  "school 
of  polite  manners" : 

"April  ii.      Violent  Proceed*8  about  dancing  Master  -  -  to 
leave  T°  to-morrow." 

On  April  i,  1782,  Isaacs  returned  a  sympathetic  letter, 
containing  the  following  passages : 

"I  intend  to  come  to  visit  you,  if  possible,  within  a  Month, 
&  expect  a  salute  from  the  compleatest  Beau  of  the  Age. 
For  I  expect,  Brother  Sim,  that  you  have  made  your  usual 
proficiency  in  the  noble  Art  of  dancing;  if  we  may  be 
allowed  to  give  any  credit  to  the  young  Students  Letter.  I 
hope  the  powerful  Competition  of  the  Fiddle  will  not  oblige 
the  good  Bible,  to  quit  its  important  place. 

I  think  the  scandalous  proceedings  of  your  Town  Meeting 
reflects  the  utmost  ignominy  &  disgrace  upon  its  Members; 

3  Brothers  in  Unity;    founded  April  4,  1768;   Stiles,  Literary  Diary, 

ii,  527. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  a  Resident  Graduate  79 

however  you  know  it  is  the  characteristic  of  the  place;  I 
think  nothing  less  could  be  expected  considering  the  disposi 
tion  of  the  People.  ...  I  should  have  been  exceeding 
glad  to  have  seen  the  celebration  of  your  Anniversary. — 
Robbins4  character,  both  as  to  his  own  merit  &  the  honor  of 
being  your  Successor,  will  sufficiently  answer  for  the  excel 
lency  of  his  Oration.  What  a  happy  Fellow  you  are,  Beauty, 
Religion  &  children  at  your  elbows  end;  Plays  and  Balls 
ever  ready  to  please  your  Fancy,  engage  your  attention;  & 
perhaps  ensnare  your  Heart.  While  I  am  like  a  Drone  in 
the  Hive,  except  what  activity  I  receive  from  perusing  the 
Letters  of  my  Friends.  Your  life  is  a  continual  round  of 
Pedagoguisms ;  mine  of  nihilisms,  &  so,  being  even,  let  us 
shake  hands,  &  cement  our  friendship  by  an  intercourse  of 
Letters." 

Isaacs  wrote  him  on  June  i,  1782,  of  a  visit  to  Norwalk  of 

"a  Friend  of  yours,  &  mine,  James  Kent.  He  is  at  home, 
at  present  -  -  surprisingly  altered  —  He  frequently  relates 
to  me  the  disputes  he  has  had  with  you,  upon  the  Girls ;  he 
says  that  he  should  be  as  great  an  Advocate  for  them  at  pres 
ent,  as  you  were  at  that  time.  He  has  become  passionately 
fond  of  the  Company  &  distinguishes  himself  as  a  Gallant. 
There  is  a  great  talk  this  way  about  your  dancing,  Mr 
Russell  as  Generalissamo,6  Miss  Bears  I  think  as  second  in 
command,  Jack  Williams  too  has  become  a  capital  Dancer.6 
Good  old  Daddy  Thompson  has  left  his  Loom ;  through  the 
importuning  of  his  Daughters,  &  come  to  Newhaven,  that 
they  may  have  the  opportunity  of  improving  in  such  a  hope 
ful  School.  O  Lamentable ;  O  monstrous !  that  the  iniquity 
of  the  times  should  deprive  you,  of  all  these  advantages.  Are 
you  one  of  the  most  extraordinary,  or  not  ?  perhaps  you  may 

*Asher  Robbins  (Yale,  Class  of  1782),  afterwards  United  States 
Senator  from  Rhode  Island. 

6  This  was  probably  Samuel  Russell  (Yale,  Class  of  1781),  who 
was  College  Butler  and  a  resident  graduate  during  the  year  1782-3. 

6  This  was  probably  John  Williams  (Yale,  Class  of  1781),  who  was 
then  studying  law  in  New  Haven  under  Judge  Charles  Chauncey. 


So  Life  at  Yale,  as  a  Resident  Graduate 

be  surprized  at  my  Questions,  but  I  will  give  you  my  reasons. 
As  your  Beaus  &  Belles  would  not  willingly  I  suppose,  admit 
us  into  your  presence,  we  shall  be  necessitated,  to  look  out 
for  accommodations  where  we  may  shuffle,  &  hobble.  There 
fore  I  would  wish  to  know  whether  you  will  be  willing  to  Join 
our  western,  unpolished  Company.  For  instance  suppose 
we  were  to  begin  at  Milford,  &  run  as  far  as  the  boundaries 
between  Connecticut  &  York  State;  don't  you  think  we 
might  get  a  respectable  Company,  considering  all  disad 
vantages  unimproved  and  uninstructed,  in  the  noblest  of  all 
Schools." 

During  their  Sophomore  year,  Simeon  Baldwin  and  Enoch 
Perkins  agreed  to  commence  a  correspondence  in  the  next 
coming  vacation.  Perkins  sent  the  first  letter  August  13, 
1779,  and  they  continued  (though  with  increasing  infre- 
quency)  to  write  each  other  occasionally  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Perkins  in  1828.  In  1820,  Roger  Sherman  Baldwin,  the 
son  of  one  of  them,  was  married  to  Emilia  Perkins,  a  daugh 
ter  of  the  other. 

On  October  25,  1781,  Mr.  Perkins  wrote  from  Newport, 
where  he  was  employed  as  a  tutor  in  the  family  of  Hon., 
William  Ellery  (Harvard,  Class  of  1747),  the  news  of  the 
surrender  of  Cornwallis : 

"Yesterday  we  had  the  glorious  intelligence  of  Cornwallis's 
Surrender.  Inclosed  I  send  you  a  hand-bill,  printed  this 
morning,  giving  an  account  of  this  important  &  joyful  event. 
Whigs  wear  a  smile,  and  Tories  a  long  face.  The  Bell  has 
been  ringing  almost  ever  since  the  arrival  of  the  news.  This 
morning  at  Sunrise  the  French  Cutter  in  the  Harbour  fired 
a  Feu  de  joy  of  13  Cannon.  At  12  there  is  to  be  a  discharge 
of  Cannon,  upon  the  Parade.  Providence  favours,  America 
prospers,  Liberty  smiles,  and  may  Peace  soon  wave  her  olive 
wand  o'er  our  happy  land." 

Mr.  Baldwin,  on  October  28th,  sent  the  news  to  his  boy- 


Life  at  Yale,  as  a  Resident  Graduate  8 1 

hood  friend,  George  Hough,  now  a  printer  and  publisher  in 
Norwich,  and  received  this  reply  on  November  21,  1781: 

"Yours  of  the  24th  ultimo  accompanying  the  MS.  for  pub 
lication,  I  recd  per  His  Honor  the  Lieut  Governor ;  but  had 
previously  recd  that  of  the  28th,  containing  your  congratu 
lations  on  the  Glorious  News,  &c.  from  which  I  took  the 
liberty  to  extract  a  paragraph  for  the  News-paper,  partly 
to  confirm  what  we  had  before  heard,  and  partly  on  account 
of  the  Joy  which  seemed  to  swell  every  breast  to  the  utmost 
degree  of  exultation;  hoping  withal  that  the  people  of  this 
town,  on  seeing  that  the  neighbouring  ones  were  making 
preparations  to  celebrate  the  important  capture,  would  be 
induced  to  propose  a  day  to  be  set  apart  for  General  Rejoic 
ing,  and  let  every  denomination  participate  in  the  Entertain 
ment,  so  as  to  render  the  Joy  mutual,  and  diffuse  a  little  upon 
the  heart  of  every  poor  inhabitant.  But  alas!  Alas!  the 
reverse  was  the  case ;  for  a  number  were  privately  selected, 
and  had  a  dinner  prepared  for  them, —  a  partial  invitation 
was  given,  and  none  but  trusty  worthies  were  admitted: — 
Their  plan  was  discovered  by  the  commonalty  about  ten 
o'clock  on  the  day  they  were  to  dine,  and  the  whole  affair 
turned  into  complete  ridicule.  Instead  of  preparing  fire 
works,  &c.  against  evening,  (which  they  readily  would  have 
done  had  the  matter  been  conducted  properly)  they  assembled 
on  the  Green,  and  proceeded  to  muffling  and  tolling  the  Bell, 
instead  of  ringing  it,  and  firing  cannon.  The  distorted  coun 
tenances,  the  Chagrin,  mortification  and  resentment,  which 
appeared  in  the  Select  party,  contrasted  with  the  satisfaction 
the  people  seemed  to  receive  in  ridiculing  them,  formed  the 
drollest  scene  I  ever  beheld.  -  -  General  revenge  was  sworn 
by  some  of  the  Gentry  on  the  leaders  of  the  rabble,  while 
those  who  had  but  late  invitations  to  attend  the  entertain 
ment,  and  were  before  unacquainted  with  the  plan  on  which 
it  was  founded,  being  now  dissatisfied  with  it,  commended 
the  people  for  their  proceedings,  and  censured  the  others  for 
their  conniving  partiality.  -  -  However,  it  seems  now  to  be 
blown  over,  and  I  hope  wisdom  and  experience  will  treat  them 
better  next  time." 


82  Life  at  Yale,  as  a  Resident  Graduate 

Hough  was  now  busy  at  his  trade,  and  the  correspondence 
with  him  did  not  long  survive  a  letter,  dated  July  27,  1782, 
in  which  he  wrote : 

"When  a  Correspondence  becomes  so  dull  as  to  consist 
chiefly  in  mutual  apologies  for  want  of  time  to  enlarge  on 
some  important  topic,  (which  has  been  the  principal  contents 
of  several  of  our  late  letters  to  each  other,)  it  affords  but 
very  little  entertainment  or  instruction ;  and  can  hardly  claim 
a  right  to  the  name  of  Letter  Writing;  but  on  the  contrary 
bears  the  resemblance  of  a  couple  of  old  women  sending  invi 
tations  to  each  other  for  a  visit  and  are  both  too  lazy  (or  cant 
get  time)  to  go  abroad. 

But  hold!  -  -  I  am  too  blunt  in  my  introduction;  for  on 
second  look  I  find  our  letters  have  been  lately  filled  with 
matters  on  business.  I  ask  pardon  for  my  absurd  reflec 
tion  -  -  I  was  hasty,  and  had  not  read  yours  through;  (at 
least  since  I  first  recd  it)" 

On  April  3,  1782,  Mr.  Perkins  sent  an  elaborate  letter, 
composed  on  a  new  plan — that  of  writing  a  description  of 
particular  characters. 

"It  is  sometimes  more  agreable  to  walk  in  a  new  path 
than  in  an  old  one,  though  the  new  be  not  in  itself  more 
pleasant  than  the  other.  In  this  letter  give  me  leave  to  intro 
duce  you  to  one  or  two  worthy  persons.  If  the  acquaintance 
proves  agreable  to  you,  it  is  all  your  Friend  wishes. 

-  William  -  -  Esq.7  was  educated  at  Harvard 

College  -  -  was  formerly  attorney  at  Law  —  has  been  active 
in  the  present  controversy  -  -  is  now  at  Philadelphia  sitting 
in  Congress,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  great  part  of 
the  time  since  the  revolution.  When  the  enemy  came  to 
Newport,  his  family  moved  into  the  country,  during  his 
absence  his  estate  suffered  much.  He  has  lately  returned. 
Early,  upon  my  residing  here,  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  be 
introduced  to  his  acquaintance.  He  has  the  true  art  of  being 

7  William  Ellery,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 


Life  at  Yale,  as  a  Resident  Graduate  83 

agreable  in  company.  Many  persons  of  his  age  and  station 
have  no  more  to  say  to  a  circle  of  young  persons,  than  if  they 
were  quite  a  different  species  of  beings.  But  Mr 
has  always  something  agreable.  If  entertainment  lies  no 
nearer,  he  can  bring  it  from  the  manners  &  customs  of 
Philadelphia  and  the  Southern  States,  with  which  a  man  of 
his  nice  discernment  is  perfectly  acquainted.  He  is  not  a 
story  teller,  but  he  shines  in  telling  a  story.  While  I  have 
been  hearing  him  relate  the  circumstances  of  his  college-life, 
I  have  fancied  it  to  be  such  a  scene  as  would  give  entertain 
ment  to  every  beholder;  but  afterwards  reflection  told  me 
that  the  entertainment  arose  not  from  the  circumstances,  but, 
from  the  manner  of  relating  them.  He  converses  with  his 
family,  and  his  family  converses  with  him,  with  the  famil 
iarity  of  Brothers  and  Sisters.  For  his  wisdom  they  revere 
him,  for  his  accomplishments  they  are  pleased  with  his  com 
pany,  and  in  return  for  his  paternal  affection  they  have  for 
him  that  which  is  truly  filial.  He  is  perfectly  acquainted 
with  the  interests  of  his  country,  and  is  a  firm  supporter  of 
her  rights.  He  was  at  Philadelphia,  when  the  enemy  took 
possession  of  Newport,  and  his  family  were  obliged  to  leave 
their  pleasant  habitation,  and  take  refuge  in  the  country. 
Then  was  the  time  to  try  mens'  souls.  He  writes  to  his  family 
'I  am  ready  to  sacrifice  not  only  my  property,  but  my  life,  in 
the  cause  of  liberty  &  my  country/ 

M™.  -  -  is  agreable  as  to  her  person,  but  the  beauty 

of  her  person  is  far  surpassed  by  the  amiable  and  truly 
estimable  qualities  of  her  mind.  Understanding  &  memory 
are  hers  in  an  eminent  degree.  These  have  not  wanted  culti 
vation.  She  was  so  happy  as  to  have  a  mother  capable  of 
forming  her  mind  to  virtue,  &  of  improving  it  in  knowledge, 
from  her  earliest  years.  She  is  exceedingly  well  versed  in 
the  more  elegant  English  authors.  Her  taste  is  just  and 
refined.  Her  manners  are  engaging.  She  is  Mistress  of 
politeness.  The  internal  management  of  her  family  is  admir 
able.  Would  you  see  elegance,  view  her  table  or  drawing 
room.  But  of  all  her  excellent  qualities  the  most  worthy  of 
praise  and  esteem  are  her  admirable  talents  and  assiduous 
care  for  the  education  of  her  family.  Besides  a  promising 


84  Life  at  Yale,  as  a  Resident  Graduate 

son,  she  has  two  daughters.  The  eldest  in  the  bloom  of 
seventeen.  To  the  excellent  instruction  of  such  a  mother 
have  been  added  the  advantages  of  a  boarding  school  at  Bos 
ton.  Here  is  youth,  beauty,  good  sense,  politeness,  family, 
and  fortune.  The  youngest  daughter  is  twelve.  The 
worthiest  of  mothers  gives  the  greatest  attention  to  her  edu 
cation.  She  wants  not  capacity  or  agreableness.  What 
pleasure  must  such  a  parent  feel !  the  purest  and  most  noble 
that  can  enter  the  human  breast.  How  happy  the  man  who 
is  connected  with  such  a  person  in  the  nearest  and  most  inti 
mate  society?  Rational  entertainment  in  her  company  sweet- 
ens  his  moments  of  leisure.  Her  attention  to  domestic 
concerns  relieves  him  from  care.  He  sees  his  family  flour 
ishing  under  her  cultivating  hand.  She  is  an  honour  to  his 
choice.  This  choice,  my  Friend,  is  the  most  important  — 
the  all-important  step  in  a  mans  life.  Without  domestic  hap 
piness,  farewell  to  all  hopes  of  happiness.  Must  not  every 
man  of  discernment  and  feeling  have  the  most  mortifying 
sensations  to  see  himself  joined  to  a  person  unworthy  of  his 
choice?  Let  the  wisest  observation  pry  into  the  foibles  of 
the  Lady  before  the  tender  passion  is  indulged.  But  after 
the  indissoluble  not  is  tyed,  then  let  the  veil  of  candour  be 
spread  over  defects. 

I  have  been  intimately  acquainted  with  several  families. 
I  always  form  an  opinion.  One  Lady  is  an  eternal  talker; 
tells  a  story  an  hour  long,  when  every  hearer  wishes  it  to  be 
not  a  minute;  is  liberal  of  her  censures  on  her  husband. 
Another,  although  an  agreable  companion,  is  remiss  in  her 
domestic  affairs.  Another  is  violent  in  her  temper,  and  not 
over  stocked  with  good  sense  or  neatness.  The  person  and 
mind  of  another  almost  forces  you  to  believe  that  nature  mis 
took  the  sex.  Female  oratory,  or  incessant  scolding  make 
another  the  object  of  contempt.  The  truly  worthy  part  of 
the  sex  are  so  few,  and  those  of  a  contrary  character  so  many, 
that  the  choice  needs  the  greatest  circumspection.  Indeed  the 
prospect  seems  almost  discouraging. 

But  man  was  formed  for  Society,  and  for  this  nearest  of 
societies.  Until  that  connection  is  formed,  he  is  in  a  sense 
alone.  There  is  not  a  person  in  the  world,  whose  interests 


Life  at  Yale,  as  a  Resident  Graduate  85 

are  entirely  the  same  with  his.  We  are  formed  with  passions. 
The  most  beautiful  part  of  our  species  is  the  object  of  them. 
The  virtuous  union  of  two  kindred  souls  is  the  highest  human 
happiness.  Many  are  the  cares  attending  the  union;  but 
mutual  affection,  mutual  endearments,  and  mutual  esteem 
amply  repay  them. 

My  Friend,  I  have  written  you  a  long  letter,  if  it  could 
afford  you  entertainment  for  an  idle  minute,  I  shall  be  repaid. 
In  this  letter,  I  have  given  you  a  sketch  of  two  characters, 
in  my  next  I  will  give  you  their  names.  It  is  a  long  time  since 
you  have  received  a  line  from  me.  The  fault  non  est  mea, 
sed  temporum." 

On  June  12,  1782,  Rev.  Samuel  Wales  was  installed  as 
Professor  of  Divinity  at  Yale,  with  all  due  ceremony. 
Simeon  Baldwin,  as  a  resident  graduate  and  one  of  the  better 
Latinists  among  them,  gave,  at  the  request  of  the  President, 
a  Latin  oration.  The  New  Haven  newspaper  of  June  20 
described  it  as  "ingenious"  and  well  adapted  to  the  occasion.8 

In  the  course  of  this  year  two  things  occurred  of  lasting 
importance  to  Mr.  Baldwin.  He  began  the  study  of  law 
under  the  direction  of  Judge  Charles  Chauncey  of  New 
Haven,  and  he  became  deeply  interested  in,  if  not  virtually 
engaged  to,  Miss  Rebecca  Sherman,  a  handsome  girl  of 
seventeen,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Roger  Sherman,  the  signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

That  his  work  as  a  graduate  student  and  also  as  a  school 
master  was  thought  well  of  by  those  who  could  best  judge 
is  implied,  in  his  recommendation,  towards  the  close  of  the 
year,  by  the  President,  for  the  important  position  in  Albany 
described  in  the  following  chapter. 

8  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  27. 


CHAPTER  IV 
YEAR  AS  A  SCHOOLMASTER  AT  ALBANY 

On  July  2,  1782,  Alderman  Peter  W.  Yates  of  Albany 
presented  to  President  Stiles  a  request  for  advice  in  pro 
curing  two  "preceptors"  for  the  Albany  Academy.  This 
had  been  founded  two  years  before,  and  was  under  the  gov 
ernment  of  the  city  authorities,  though  partly  supported  by 
private  subscriptions.  On  Dr.  Stiles'  recommendation,  Mr. 
Baldwin  and  John  Lovett  of  Lisbon,  a  member  of  the  grad 
uating  class,  were  engaged,  at  a  salary  for  each  of  "£150, 
York  money  silver."  In  Stiles'  diary  for  July  5,  1782,  this  is 
minuted,  with  the  addition  of  "Deduct  Board  &  Wash8  100 
Dolls  per  Ann.  leaves  £110." 

There  was  no  time  to  consult  his  father,  but  shortly  after 
accepting  the  position  he  wrote  home  about  it  and  received 
the  following  replies  from  his  father  and  stepmother.  They 
show  the  good  sense  and  piety  of  each. 

"Norwich  July  18  1782 

Dear  child  my  kind  Love  and  affection  to  you  wishing 
of  you  well  I  Received  yours  informing  me  that  you  have 
ingaged  to  goo  to  Albenni  to  keep  a  School  their,  being 
ingaged  tis  too  late  to  give  my  advice  about  going  I  fear  it 
is  a  place  whair  you  will  meat  with  much  bad  compiny  now 
my  advice  is  to  shun  all  bad  compni  as  much  as  bosabal  which 
many  times  brings  a  snare  on  young  people  kep  the  fear  of 
god  before  your  eyes  and  all  Days  remembr  that  you  are 
acountabel  to  god  for  every  action  don  hear  in  the  body  I 
pray  to  god  for  you  that  he  will  protect  and  defend  you  from 
the  snairs  of  the  world  and  bring  you  to  the  knowlig  of 
himself  and  to  embrace  Jesus  Christ  as  ofred  in  the  gospel 
Senc  you  are  ingaged  to  goo  I  make  no  obgacton  i  hope  it 
may  doe  well  We  are  in  as  good  a  State  of  health  as  yousel 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  87 

I  hope  you  will  write  as  often  as  you  can  being  at  such  a 

grait  Distanc 

So  I  Subscrib  your  affectianant  father     Eben  Baldwin" 

"Dear  child  I  am  very  sorry  your  Lott  is  cast  att  so  grate 
a  distance  from  home  but  I  hope  you  have  consedered  the 
matter  well  and  taken  the  best  advise  and  I  know  there  is  the 
same  god  to  protect  you  there  as  hear  whose  devine  direction 
I  pray  you  may  have  in  all  your  ways  and  may  your  Life 
and  health  be  precious  in  his  sight  to  whose  care  I  Recommend 
you  and  Remain  your  Loveing  mother 

Esther  Baldwin." 

At  the  same  time,  his  sister  Bethia  writes  him  that  she 
does  not  like  his  going  such  a  distance  from  home  as  to 
Albany,  but  she  finds  there  is  a  post-rider  from  there  to 
Bennington,  Vermont,  and  so  they  may  hope  to  have  news 
of  his  doings  from  time  to  time  by  mail. 

The  general  practice  of  those  days  to  send  letters  by 
private  hands  was  due  to  the  paucity  and  irregularity  of  the 
post  office  service,  quite  as  much  as  the  high  cost  of  postage. 
Letters  frequently  miscarried,  and  when  money  was  enclosed, 
it  was  at  considerable  risk  of  losing  it.  The  mails  were 
chiefly  carried  by  post-riders,  on  horseback.1 

Albany  at  this  time  had  four  or  five  thousand  inhabitants, 
and  had  been  incorporated  as  a  city  for  nearly  a  hundred 
years.  Jedediah  Morse,  in  the  second  volume  of  his  "Ameri 
can  Geography,"  published  in  1792,  gives  a  description  of 
it,  from  which  the  following  extracts  are  taken. 

"As  great  a  variety  of  languages  are  spoken  in  Albany, 
as  in  any  town  in  the  United  States.  Adventurers,  in  pursuit 
of  wealth,  are  led  here  by  the  advantages  for  trade  which  this 
place  affords.  .  .  . 

Albany  is  said  to  be  an  unsociable  place.  This  is  naturally 
to  be  expected.  A  heterogeneous  collection  of  people, 

1  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  54.  See  ante,  pages  38,  42,  51 ;  post, 
page  424. 


88  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

invested  with  all  their  national  prejudices,  eager  in  the  pursuit 
of  gain,  and  jealous  of  a  rivalship,  cannot  expect  to  enjoy 
the  pleasures  of  social  intercourse,  or  the  sweets  of  an  inti 
mate  and  refined  friendship.  .  .  . 

To  form  a  just  idea  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the 
inhabitants,  we  must  confine  ourselves  to  the  Dutch,  who 
being  much  the  most  numerous,  give  the  ton  to  the  manners 
of  the  place.  Two  things  unite  more  particularly  to  render 
these  disagreeable  to  foreigners;  first,  a  natural  prejudice 
which  we  all  possess  in  favour  of  our  own,  and  against  the 
manners  of  another  place  or  nation:  secondly,  their  close 
union,  like  the  Jews  of  old,  to  prevent  the  innovation  of  for 
eigners,  and  to  keep  the  balance  of  interest  always  in  their 
hands. 

It  is  an  unhappy  circumstance  when  an  infant  nation 
adopts  the  vices,  luxuries  and  manners  of  an  old  one;  but 
this  was  in  a  great  measure  the  case  with  the  first  settlers 
of  Albany,  most  of  whom  were  immediately  from  Amster 
dam.  Their  diversions  are  walking  and  sitting  in  mead- 
houses,  and  in  mixed  companies  they  dance.  They  know 
nothing  of  the  little  plays  and  amusements  common  to  small 
social  circles.  The  gentlemen  who  are  lively  and  gay,  play 
at  cards,  billiards,  chess,  &c.  others  go  to  the  tavern,  mechan 
ically,  at  eleven  o'clock,  stay  until  dinner,  and  return  in  the 
evening.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  see  forty  or  fifty  at  these 
places  of  resort,  at  the  same  time;  yet  they  seldom  drink 
to  intoxication,  unless  in  company,  or  on  public  occasions, 
when  it  is  thought  to  be  no  disgrace." 

Mr.  Baldwin  and  Mr.  Lovett  rode  to  Albany  on  horseback. 
The  following  copy  of  a  journal  kept  by  the  former2  gives 
quite  a  full  account  of  his  journey  there  and  the  year  that 
followed  it. 

2  A  large  part  of  this  journal  is  embodied  in  a  paper  entitled  "A 
Young  Man's  Journal  of  a  Hundred  Years  Ago,"  read  in  1884  by 
Simeon  E.  Baldwin  before  the  New  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society 
and  published  in  its  Papers,  Vol.  IV,  193. 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  89 

JOURNAL  N. i 

This  gloomy  Day  saw  me  bid  adieu  to  the  happy     Aug.  5* 
Circle  of  my  Intimates  at  New  Haven  &  set  out     i;82' 
on  a  journey  from  that  to  Albany,    (in  company 
with  Mr  Lovett)  to  take  with  him  the  charge  of  their 
academic    school  The    thoughts    of    leaving 

friends  with  whom  I  had  spent  so  many  of  the  social 
hours  in  the  most  agreeable  manner  &  of  some  of 
them  to  whom  I  was  bound  by  the  strongest  ties 
of  Affection,  could  not  be  otherwise  than  disagree 
able.  And  the  prospect  of  forming  new 
acquaintance  in  a  place  where  the  maners  of  the 
people  were  so  very  different  from  those  to  which  I 
had  ever  been  accustomed  —  &  which  was  ever 
represented  to  me  as  the  most  horrid  place  of 
Nature,  fill'd  me  with  anxiety  &  uneasy  reflections. 

Harrassed  with  these  feelings,  but  otherwise 
agreeably  we  passed  thro  Waterbury  where  we 
heard  the  agreeable  News  of  the  arrival  of  the 
french  fleet  of  13  Sail  in  Chesapeak.  -  Dr  Wood 
of  Danbury  favoured  us  with  the  intelligence  — 
we  saw  Litchfield  the  next  morning  found  it  a 
pretty  well  situated  Town.  Land  very  good  &  Aug 
farmers  wealthy  -  -  brokefast  at  Mr  Shermans3  of 
Goshen  -  after  breakfast  were  favoured  with  the 
presence  of  the  most  angelic  form  in  a  female  that 
ever  I  saw.  the  features  of  her  face  were  regular 
&  well  formed  -  -  her  skin  like  the  paper  on  which 
I  write,  animated  with  a  little  of  the  Vermillion  — 
her  Lips  which  it  would  be  a  feast  for  an  Emperor 
to  kiss  -  -  displayed  the  tast  of  the  divine  Architect 
who  formed  them  in  a  more  lively  maner  than  words 
can  express  or  the  most  celebrated  painter  display. 
And  without  the  thoughts  of  flattery,  if  any  thing 
performed  by  mortals  is  inimitable,  it  was  the  dress 
ing  of  her  hair :  it  covered  her  Cushion  as  a  plate 

3  Rev.  Josiah  Sherman  (Princeton,  Class  of  1754). 


90  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

of  the  most  beautiful  enamel  frosted  with  Silver  — 
nor  were  the  flowing"  ringlets  that  innocently  played 
upon  her  heavenly  neck,  less  beautiful  -  her  - 
stop  says  my  dulcinea  forbear  your  praises  or  I'll 
be  jealous  Upon  the  whole  she  was  an  amiable 
object  &  afforded  us  an  agreeable  conversation 
thro'  the  stony  woods  of  Norfolk  &  the  uper  part 
of  Canaan.  We  called  on  Burral4  -  -  he  was  from 
home,  went  on  to  Sheffield,  a  pretty  little  country 
Town  --  slept  that  night  at  an  old  Dutchman's  near 
the  foot  of  the  mountains  of  Nobletown  -  -  which 
we  passed  the  next  morning  on  our  way  to  Kinder- 

th  hook;    dined  in  the  plain  between  that  &  Green- 

bush  -  -  crossed  the  river  about  Sunset  enquired 
for  Dennisons  were  met  there  by  Mr  Yates,  who 
politely  insisted  on  our  spending  the  night  with 

I782  him  -  -  went  to  Bloodgood's;    fill'd  the  circle  with 

Aug  news  &  supt  at  Denisons  on  fish,  with  John  &  Kilian 

Ranselear :  slept  at  Mr  Yates  - 

After  Breakfast  walked  round  the  City:  found 
many  streats  agreeable,  but  in  others  the  smell  was 
most  intolerable,  few  of  them  are  paved  &  they  in 

9th  general  the  most  filthy:   dined,  supt,  &  Slept  again 

at  Mr  Yates.  After  Breakfast  set  out  for  Domine 
Westerlo's,5  met  him  on  the  road,  deliver'd  our  Let 
ters  &  received  a  polite  invitation  to  dine  with  him  - 
were  engaged,  but  by  his  desire  promised  to  do 
ourselves  the  Honor  of  waiting  on  him  at  Tea  — 
delivered  our  Letters  to  the  Mayor  who  treated  us 
politely  -  Dined  at  Mr  Henry's  a  most  agreeable 
family  in  company  with  Mr  JVTKesson  an  attorney  — 
tarried  till  after  Tea  -  -  rode  with  Mr  Yates  in  a 
carriage  to  the  D.  took  tea  again  spent  a  Sociable 
Afternoon,  were  much  pleased  with  the  grandieur 
of  the  patron's  seat  where  the  Domine  Lived, 
returned  to  Mr  Yates  &  Slept  —  next  day  Saturday 

4  Jonathan  Burrall  (Yale,  Class  of  1781). 

5  Rev.  Eilardus  Westerlo,  father-in-law  of  Philip  van  Rensselaer. 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  91 

Au£.  lowry :  did  not  go  out  till  afternoon  -  saw  nothing 

remarkable  except  that  we  were  visited  by  Stephen6 
&  K.  V.  Ransselear7  — 

Sabbath  The  first  thing  I  saw  from  my  window  was  the 

butchers  killing  sheep  &  boys  driving  their 
Hoops  -  &  soon  after  the  Waggons  were  ratling, 
this  at  once  led  me  to  a  tho't  upon  virtue  &  morality 
which  as  far  as  it  comes  to  my  share  I  am  deter 
mined  to  maintain  -  -  &  as  I  see  myself  exposed  to 
temptation  &  surrounded  by  examples  of  this  kind 
will  endeavour  to  double  my  vigilence  in  my  vir 
tues  defence  -  went  to  worship  in  the  dutch 
church  but  contrary  to  our  expectation  the  Domine 
preached  &  performed  the  whole  service  in  Dutch 
to  our  no  great  edification  -  In  the  afternoon 
the  Domine  favoured  us  with  a  very  good  sermon 
in  English  upon  temptation  --  &  at  5  o  Clock  heard 
Mr  Catlin  preach  a  most  inspired  discourse  from 
the  grain  of  corn  that  died 

Albany  This  day  entered  upon  the  business  of  our  School 

Mond.Aug.  our  Number  in  the  forenoon  was  31;  a  Collection 
(taken  together)  of  as  likely  look'd  Lads  as  ever 
I  saw  ...  in  afternoon  near  40  -  -  to  our 
surprize  saw  Merwin  &  Williams  -  -  walked  with 
them  to  Jack  Ransselears  were  amused  with  the 
sight  of  a  very  fine  horse  which  here  affords  the 
people  the  grandest  entertainment  -  -  supt  at  Mr 
Philip  ransslears  were  treated  very  politely  - 

13  Merwin  &  Williams  left  us,  I  wrote  a  line  to 

Docr  Goodrich  &  sent  his  horse  -  -  &  another  short 
Line  for  the  first  to  my  Dulcinea  -  spent  the  day 
in  School ;  are  still  much  pleased  with  our  Pupils  — 
but  at  times  of  reflection  cant  but  turn  a  thought  on 
the  happy  Circle  of  my  Intimates  in  N.  England 
with  whom  I  have  spent  so  many  sociable  hours  - 

6  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  was  graduated  from  Harvard  in  1782,  the 
fifth  in  line  of  the  patroons. 

7  Kilian  K.  Van  Rensselaer,  who  studied  at  Yale  but  did  not  graduate. 


9 2  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

but  stay  my  complaints!  I  am  I  hope  improving 
&  even  from  this  -  -  as  I  shall  know  how  to  vallue 
the  blessing  when  I  enjoy  it  (if  ever)  again.  Yet 
Heavens!  O  Amanda  what  would  I  give  for 
another  such  happy  evening  &  a  return  of  those 
sweet  Kisses  which  I  enjoyed  when  last  I  saw 
you  -  last  night  Lovett  &  myself  had  the  honour 
of  an  Invitation  to  spend  the  Evening  with  the 
Commonalty  were  obliged  to  beg  ourselves  excused 
for  our  Company's  sake  (i  e  Merwin  &  Wil)  but 
by  their  desire  agreed  to  spend  this  Eve  with  the 
Subscribers;8  went  accordingly  to  Bloodgood's 
tavern  spent  the  Eve —  pretty  sociably  &  drank 
our  fill  from  the  BOWL  of  plenty  which  moved  round 
the  Dutchified  Circle  as  fast  as  the  unwillingness 
of  the  machine  &  their  natural  heaviness  (for  all 
things  else)  would  admit 

Fryday  Dined  with  Gen.  Ten  Broeck9  in  company  with 

16  Gansevoort  Esq  the  recorder     Dom.  Westerlo  Col. 

Levingston,  Mess"  Steven  &  Killion  Ransselear  - 
a  grander  Table  I  never  saw  Spread  —  much  polite 
ness  &   Ease  were  manifest  &  the   whole   Circle 
appeared  to  enjoy  themselves  happily  -  -  Drank  for 
toast 

1  The  Day  (viz.  16  of  Aug)  being  the  anniversary 
of  the  glorious  victory  at  Bennington,  &  the  day 
on  which  we  received  the  news  of  the  pacific 
measures  of  Europe. 

2  Absent  friends    3     Washington  -       4     United 
States 

5     A  speady  &  honourable  Peace,      left  the  Table 

about  3  O  Clock 

Albany  Entered    into    Conversation   this   Day   with    Mr 

SaIt78^th       Yates,  upon  the  Study  of  the  Law  -  -  he  gave  me  to 

read  Simpson  upon  the  Study  of  it,  an  Ingenious 

piece  - 

8  The  private  subscribers  to  the  expenses  of  the  Academy. 

9  Gen.  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  then  Mayor  of  Albany. 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  93 

In  the  forenoon  remained  at  home  —  in  the  Aft.  Sab  i8th 
went  to  the  high-Dutch-Church  —  in  Expectation 
of  an  English  Sermon  but  was  disappointed  —  was 
much  entertained  with  Organs,  which  I  now  heard 
for  the  first  time  -  -  think  it  a  great  addition  to  the 
beauty  &  Grandeur  of  church  music.  - 

This   day  began   the   Study  of   the   Law,   with     Momg- 
Wood's  institutes  &  Jacobs  Gram.  —  Sat24 

Nothing  extraordinary  this  Week  am  much  con 
fined  -  -  have  not  as  yet  been  introduced  to  a  single 
Young  Lady,  &  for  want  thereof  was  last  night 
obliged  to  kiss  table  Spoons;  semidintd  this  day 
upon  bread  &  buttermilk  for  the  first  time 

After  dinner  were  favoured  with  the  Company 
of  Col.  Nichol  &  Jack  Ransslaer  &c  -       The  after-     25 
noon  heard  Dr  Westerlo  deliver  a  very  excellent 
discourse  from  Rom.  14:   7  &  8. 

Have  employed  myself  this  day  almost  entirely  Saturday 
in  writing  Letters  to  friends  in  New  England  - 
read  but  little  &  Introduced  to  no  Company  • 
except  that  Yesterday  dined  with  the  Domine,  with 
Col.  Deuar10  &  Mr  Lansing  -  Table  was  furnished 
with  much  elegance  &  a  fine  Dinner  -  spent  the 
Evening  agreably  at  Dr  Youngs  -  -  with  his  &  his 
sisters  agreeable  conversation  &  the  animating 
music  of  his  Violin  -  -  drank  Tea  on  Monday  at 
Mr  Henry's  -  This  day  (Sat.)  Lovett  left  me  to 
the  Toils  of  the  whole  school  -  -  while  he  enjoys  the 
pleasures  of  Comt.  Now  I've  a  glorious  time  for 
drooping  Melancholy,  &  never  satisfying  reflection. 
-  endeavoured  however  to  divert  myself  by  Hunt 
ing  in  company  with  Mr  Yates  &  Nisher  came  home 
much  fatigued  &  with  very  little  game 

A.  M.  heard  Dom.  W.  preach  an  excellent  sermon  Se  r  ist 
from  these  words  "The  just  shall  live  by  faith"  Sabbath 
&  feel  unhappy  tho'  perhaps  from  no  better  prin- 

10  Probably  Col.  Wm.  Duer,  who  married  a  daughter  of  the  so-called 
Lord  Stirling. 


94  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

ciple  than  conformity  to  Custom,  that  I  cant,  this 
P.  M.  took  tea  at  Mr  Teabout  a  clever  old  Gentle 
man  with  M1"8  Yates  Graham  &c  —  spent  the  Evening 
agreeably  at  Mr  Phil.  Rensselear;  supt  there  - 
with  Mr  Morris  his  Sister  &  Miss  Betty  Sanders  .  .  . 
Sept  4  This  day  sent  a  Letter  to  Lovett,  never  was  more 

1782  dejected  in  Spirit  in  my  Life  -      a  laborious  School 

mate  gone  -  -  Mr  Yates  gone  -  -  &  I  alone  in  the 
midst  of  a  Thousand  --  &  never  (I  begin  to  think) 
was  a  more  disagreeable  place  -  -  or  one  where  it 
was  more  difficult  to  form  an  intimacy  with  any 
one  -  for  this  appears  to  be  the  principle  of  their 
Action  &  the  extent  of  their  Politeness,  that  if  a 
stranger  of  good  family  &  fortune  &  very  agree 
able  will  be  pleased  to  introduce  -  -  &  push  himself 
into  Company  &  will  oblige  them  to  sociability  & 
make  them  agreeable  to  themselves  -  -  they  will 
suffer  him  to  stay  &  possibly  he  may  be  welcome  - 
You  may  be  as  intimate  as  friendship  will  allow, 
with  the  Young  Gentlemen  &  never  hear  the  name 
of  a  Lady  or  their  desire  to  introduce  you,  or  wish 
to  increase  your  acquaintance  -  -  such  manners  I 
never  was  acquainted  with  before,  &  hope  I  never 
may  experience  them  again.  -  In  the  afternoon 
rode  to  divert  myself  but  without  Company  -  -  went 
upon  the  flatts,  to  Maj.  Schyler's  &  very  agreeable 
&  hospitable  Man.  treated  me  kindly  lamented  the 
manners  of  the  People  &c  invited  me  to  frequent 
his  house  &c  .  .  in  the  evening  spent  a  few 
minutes  with  the  Ladies  at  Phil.  Rensselaer.  - 
Sab.  8th  Afternoon  heard  Domine  Westerlo  preach 

Sept.  Walked  in  the  Evening  but  found  no  Company  - 

look  &  feel  like  a  sheep  deprived  of  its  mates  & 
placed  among  beast  unknown  to  it.  - 

Monday  Begun  with  Col.  Burr's  son  to  instruct  him  in  the 

9  Languages.  -  -  went  to  the  Domines    found  him  not 

at  home  -       visited  by  K.  V.  Ren 

ioth  This  morning  a  little  lowry,  rain'd  some,  windy 

all  day  -  -  very  cloudy  &  high  wind  this  Eve  which 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  95 

I  observe  the  more  as  it  precedes  the  pleasures  of 
Com1,  at  N  Haven  whh  I  am  not  only  deprived  the 
pleasure  of  enjoying  but  was  almost  obliged  to  do 
the  duty  of  a  watch  in  this  detested  City  —  was 
warned,  but  for  2/6  procured  a  substitute.  -  was 
invited  to  a  funeral,  attended,  but  not  a  Dutch 
corpse—-  many  persons  were  collected  —  the  corps 
preceded,  born  of  10  persons  who  were  not  relieved, 
tho'  we  went  to  some  distance  —  the  GENTLEMEN 
fell  in  by  twos  in  procession,  but  not  a  single  Lady 
tho'  it  was  a  female  Corpse  -  the  whole  returned 
in  the  order  they  went  -  &  took  their  glass  of 
wine  with  the  mourners,  agreeable  to  the  universal 
Custom  of  the  place  —  which  I  understand  is  drank 
in  proportion  to  the  character  &  fortune  of  the 
dead.  &c.  — 

Wei  ii  Had  no  School  in  the  forenoon  -       was  most  of 

1782  the  Day  in  mente  at  N  H.  et  totus  in  ipsa;   in  the 

afternoon  weather  favourable  —  &  a  most  glorious 
Evening  for  Dancing. 

Is^nta  Heard  Dom  Westerlo  preach  an  excellent  Dis- 

Sabbath  course  upon  the  merits  of  Christ  &  his  Righteous 
ness  -  Dined  with  Mr  Henry  as  Mr  Yates  &  his 
Lady  were  gone  up  the  river.  -  spent  the  after 
noon  at  home  in  reading  the  divine  Sentiments  of 
the  Phylosophic  Seneca.  -  in  the  evening  visited 
Alderman  Huss  -  &  supt  at  Gen.  Ten  Broecks,  as 
his  Son  had  this  day  returned  from  N  Haven  .... 
Sat  My  school  in  the  Absence  of  Mr  Lovett  is  so 

exceedingly  laborious  that  really  It  has  quite 
exhausted  my  spirits  &  almost  ruined  my  health: 
]/2  an ,  hour  before  Breakfast  with  Provo  Burr ; 
enter  School  at  9,  seldom  finish  the  morning  recita 
tion  till  near  n.  from  that  to  12  too  short  for 
the  noon  restation  &  then  till  I  o  Clock  with  Burr 
again,  have  one  hour  for  diner,  then  from  2  till 
5  in  a  laborious  &  numerous  School  -  -  &  then  read 
till  ii  at  Night;  the  Day  time  I  devote  to  the 
Languages,  the  Evening  to  the  Study  of  the  Law  — 


96  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

this  has  been  my  tiresome  round  for  3  Weeks  past 
-  -  rode  in  the  afternoon  with  Mrs  Yates  to  Maj. 
Schylers  spent  a  most  agreeable  afternoon 
found  Lovett  at  home  on  my  return,  was  very  glad 
to  see  him  —  &  receive  some  very  agreeable  Letters, 
but  was  especially  animated  by  ONE.  - 

Sab  Did  not  go  to  meeting  -  -  was  a  little  unwell. 

Supt  at  Mr  P.  Renselear's  with  Col.  Rensselaer 
from  Cloverac,  a  very  lively  &  agreeable  Man, 

23  Brother  Lovett  left  me,  &  takes  lodgings  at  Mr 

Lansings,  a  curious  scene  opened  the  way  to  it.  - 

fryday  In  the  Evening  visited  the  Domine  -  -  &  find  my 

Veneration  increases  for  him  evry  time  I  see  him.  - 
&  was  really  almost  tempted  to  wish  myself  behind 
the  Door. 

29  Rode  in  company  with  Messra  Lovett,  Ten  Broeck 

&  Rensselaer  to  see  the  falls  at  Cahos  upon  the 
Mohawk  river,  12  miles  from  Albany.  -  the  ride 
is  agreeable  the  country  a  plain,  even  the  tops  of 


the  banks  of  the 
very  easy  descent 
of  a  mile  before 
Level  with  the 
of  the  fall  is 
but  none  of  it 


A  pen  and  ink 

sketch  of  the  falls 

comes  here. 


72  feet 


river  have  but  a 
runing  near  half 
they  come  to  the 
river — the  height 
about  25  yards  — 
quite  Perpendicu 


lar  -  -  tho'  the  jutting  banks  were  almost  perfectly 
so —  &  to  the  height  of  more  than  100  feet  accord 
ing  to  my  opinion.  -  the  water  was  low  so  that 
above  the  falls  we  might  have  walked  accross  with 
out  wetting  our  feet  —  &  the  little  streams  that 
purled  down  the  lofty  rocks,  amid  the  more  rough 
&  boisterous  Sluices,  formed  a  most  beautiful 
variety  in  the  Grandeur  of  the  prospect 
The  river  was  not  at  all  confined  but  of  the  two 
rather  wider  in  this  than  other  places  —  the 
bottom  above  &  below  appeared  to  be  of  one  entire 
rock,  but  of  the  soft  Slate  kind,  &  in  many  places 
curiously  wrought  upon  by  the  water,  into  holes  & 
crevices  of  various  Depths  &  shapes.  — 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


97 


Went  to  church  in  the  forenoon  heard  (as) 
usual  a  most  excellent  Sermon  from  a  Text  in 
Isaiah  delivered  by  the  Dom.  dined  with  the 
Mayor,  in  company  with  a  Mr  Sawyer  from  Bos 
ton;  had  a  fine  dinner.  As  the  exercises  were 
Dutch,  did  not  go  to  church.  At  4  o  Clock  we  went 
to  the  German-Church  &  were  entertained  for  an 
hour  after  Meeting-  with  the  animating  music  of 
the  Organs  —  drank  Tea  at  the  Mayors  &  walked 
home  -  But  I  must  make  this  reflection  —  (that 
tho'  the  time  would  have  been  most  happily  spent 
were  it  any  other  Day  of  the  week)  it  was  not  per 
fectly  consistent  with  the  more  agreeable  Rules  of 
Christianity  tho  perfectly  consonant  to  the 

manners  of  the  place  .  .  . 

It  is  also  Election-day  for  the  Aldermen  &  offi 
cers  of  the  City  -  -  accordingly  they  repaired  for 
the  purpose  to  the  City-Hall  soon  after  Church  — 

Spent  an  agreeable  Evening  at  Mr  Henrys ;  supt 
with  them  &  in  consequence  of  it  am  very  unwell; 
did  not  go  to  School. 

This  morning  am  troubled  with  a  pain  in  my 
Breast,  walked  a  mile  or  two  &  felt  it  a  little 
removed  attended  School  in  the  Afternoon, 
unwell  still  -  -  in  the  Evening  went  to  see  Dr  Young 
but  he  was  not  at  home  --  returned  to  my  Chamber 
&  relieved  my  Stomack  from  a  heavy  disagreeable 
Load  -  -  upon  which  the  Dr  made  me  a  visit  &  left 
an  Emettic,  which  I  took  early  the  next  morning  & 
find  a  great  relief. 

Dined  at  the  Domine  Westerlo's;  had  a  very 
good  dinner;  but  great  many  disagreeable  lattin 
proverbs,  which  he  is  very  fond  of  exhibiting  with 
all  the  Airs  of  pedantry,  &  not  without  reflections 

-  I  esteem  him  as  a  divine  &  a  man  well  versed 
in  the  Languages,  but  further  than  this  cannot  say 
that  I  do.  -  He  is  fond  of  their  Eropean  Edu 
cation  &  seems  to  dispise  ours  —  He  certainly 
transgresses  the  rules  of  politeness  by  introducing 


1782 

Albany 
Sept  29 
Sabbath 


Tuesday 
Oct.  Ist 
Wed.  2 

Albany 
October  3d 
1782 
Thursday 


Fryday 
4 

Sat.  5. 


98  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

so  much  of  his  Latin  upon-  evry  occasion,  especially 
as  he  knows  that  from  his  manner  of  pronuncia 
tion  it  cannot  be  clearly  intelligible  &  consequently 
must  be  disagreeable,  to  those  he  converses  with  - 
And  it  appears  to  me  that  he  does  it  from  a  prin 
ciple  which  Chesterfield  condemns  (i,  e,)  to  make 
others  appear  as  diminutive  as  possible  to  themself ; 
that  they  may  entertain  an  exalted  Idea  of  his 
superior  Learning  He  even  exercised  the 

Pedantry  (I'll  call  it  by  no  worse  name)  to  attempt 
to  examine  me  in  the  Greek  Testament,  which  I  took 
the  liberty  to  refuse:  &  was  not  a  little  out  of 
temper  &  could  perceive  I  was  not  alone  —  He 
then  mentioned  that  the  word  was  appa<f>os,  with 
out  seem,  which  I  did  not  look  upon,  for  tho  I  knew 
I  could  construe  that,  yet  I  knew  also  there  were 
many  others  which  I  could  not,  especially  as  he  was 
curious  in  the  Themes  --  nor  again  would  I  submit 
to  an  examination  from  any  man  upon  such  an 
occasion  &  before  such  Company  -  But  I  find 
that  this  is  his  pretty  general  practice;  and  upon 
my  word  it  is  some  comfort  to  me  that  others  under 
stand  him  no  better  than  I  do  -  Am  determined 
however  to  scour  up  what  little  I  know  of  the 
Mathematics,  Rhetoric,  History,  &c  that  if  I'm 
attack'd  again  with  his  lattin  balls  I  may  return  the 
fire  with  Triangles,  Tropes,  huperboles  &c  which 
I  understand  he  is  not  much  acquainted  with  — 
when  I  have  another  engagement  Til  write  more.  — 
tarried  there  till  after  Tea  when  Mess"  Steven  & 
Phil.  V.  Rensselaer  accompanied  Lovett,  Tenbroeck 
&  myself  into  Town  .... 

Sabbath  A.  M.  read  till  I  was  tired,  &  then  took  a  long 

6^1782  serious,  &  solitary  walk  —  was  accompanied  at 
diner  by  Mr  Lovett  &  two  other  Gentlemen  one  of 
them  an  agreeable  officer  &  the  impoliteness  of  our 
family  which  disgusted  me  now  more  than  ever  did 
not  suffer  our  landlord  to  introduce  either  of  us  — 
I'm  sure  it  was  noticed  by  the  officer  &  it  certainly 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  99 

made  us  feel  disagreeably  —  after  diner  we  went 
to  meeting  &  heard  the  Domine  preach  upon  the 
merits  of  Christ  &  the  necessity  of  our  faith  in 
him  - 

Passed  the  Evening  agreeably  at  Mr  Henrys  who     Tuesday 
took  the  trouble  to  initiate  me  a  little  in  the  Game         8 
of  Backgammon.  — 

Agreed  to  accompany  Mr  Lovett  upon  a  visit  9 
down  the  river  to  Col.  Nicoll's  —  was  put  to  much 
trouble  in  obtaining  a  horse,  till  Mr  Scuyler  obliged 
me  with  his  —  sat  out  about  2  o'clock  —  rode  fast 
till  near  4  o  Clock  when  we  found  we  were  in  a 
wrong  road  &  near  iy2  Mile  below  his  house  —  but 
it  was  some  compensation  that  after  the  roughness 
of  our  wrong,  woodsy  path,  we  had  a  most  beauti 
ful  canter,  to  his  house,  along  the  river,  upon  an 
exceeding  smoth  plain  of  Interval.  —  Tea  was  just 
ready  &  we  were  affectionately  welcomed  to  partake 
of  it  —  spent  the  afternoon  happily  —  had  an 
excellent  farmers  Supper,  the  fat  of  the  Land  were 
late  to  bed  &  consequently  did  not  git  up  till  8 
o  Clock;  nor  would  they  suffer  us  to  go  till  after 
Breakfast  tho  we  were  obliged  to  ride  8  miles  & 
attend  the  Academy  by  9  o  Clock  —  we  break 
fasted  —  bid  good  by  -  -  &  mounted  by  20  minutes 
past8  .... 

The  Col.  appears  to  be  a  person  of  a  very  gen 
erous  make  -  -  open  hearted  -  -  hospitable,  sensible 
and  exceeding  amiable  Gentleman  —  &  the  old  Lady 
his  wife  seems  to  vie  with  him  in  evry  excellence  — 
They  have  but  2  children  a  Son  &  a  Daughter  who 
is  now  at  Boston,  I  never  saw  her  -  -  but  his  Son 
bids  fair  to  unite  in  himself  the  excellence  of  both 
his  parents  — 

The  Estate  of  the  family  is  very  great  they  have 
a  most  noble  farm  &  of  the  best  kind  which  the 
country  affords  -  -  they  are  seated  in  the  midst  of 
it,  but  a  few  rods  from  the  North  river  —  live  in 
a  small,  but  yet  elegant  house  &  seem  to  enjoy  the 


IOO 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


10 

Thursday 


Fryday 
II 


Sat. 

12 


pleasures  of  their  Wealth.  The  scene  is  almost 
romantic  —  What  situation  does  the  Stage  of  Life 
afford,  that  is  more  pleasing.  — 

Free  from  Envy,  free  from  Strife 
The  Curst  destroyers  of  our  Life. 

We  dismounted  at  the  Door  of  our  Academy  25 
Minutes  after  9  &  found  we  had  been  but  one  hour 
&  5  minutes  in  riding  the  8  Miles.  Dined  acci 
dentally  at  Mr  Scuylers  .... 

In  the  Evening  were  invited  to  sup  with  some  of 
the  Town  Gentlemen  at  Schuylers;  sign,  Gen 
Green  Mr  Van  Neghten  accompanied  us,  were 
introduced  to  two  Messra  Lansings  &  a  Mr  Briskey 
a  modest  young  Man  from  the  Jersey,  Hackinsack. 
these  with  Mess18  Graham,  Lovett,  2  Ten  Broecks 
&  myself  made  the  Circle  —  Cards  were  introduced 
I  had  the  good  fortune  to  join  in  a  table  of  Whist 
which  we  made  very  agreeable  while  the  others 
exercised  themselves  with  the  most  disagreeable  of 
Games,  WHACKETS,  which  they  made  so  ridiculously 
noisy  that  it  was  disgusting.  —  We  sat  down  to 
supper  about  10  o.  C.  Before  us  were  oysters  &  a 
good  Turkey  -  made  a  comfortable  Supper  -  -  but 
the  wine  was  most  miserably  bad,  so  that  no  one 
was  tempted  to  drink  it  to  excess.  —  After  Supper 
a  musician  was  called  &  we  had  an  all-cheese-romp- 
ing-Dance  -  Capt.  Guion  joined  us  before  we  had 
done  &  another  officer  Graham  I  think  -  -  some 
apologies  were  made  for  the  noise  tho  'twas  said 
nothing  hapned,  but  what  was  perfectly  consonant 
to  the  manners  &  Customs  of  the  place  -  -  tho  in 
New  England  it  would  be  called  a  pretty  high  take 
—  we  left  the  House  about  12  o  C.  I  slept  with 
my  friend  Lovett  -  Breakfasted  at  home  which 
I  had  not  done  for  5  meals  —  was  not  a  little 
pleased  to  find  the  family  —  so  alarmed  that  they 
were  quite  softened  into  Honey  &  Pie  —  In  the 
Evening  attended  a  Court  at  Dennisons  twas  a 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  101 

Jury  of  Inquest  upon  an  interlocutory  Order  or 
Judgment  —  the  Sheriff  presided  —  but  as  he  was 
not  a  competent  Judge  of  Law,  the  cavils  of  the 
Lawyers  &  the  Demurrers  brought  to  his  decision 
made  it  a  confused  Court  —  they  began  at  1 1  A.  M. 
examined  witnesses  &  Accounts  till  8  after  N.  plead 
till  half  after  ten  &  gave  their  Verdict  at  12  o  Clock 

-  Col.  Troup  plead  for  the  defendant  &  I  think 
bids  fair  for  a  capital  character  as  this  was  his 
second  plea — 

Got  up  from  Breakfast  Table  5  minutes  before  1 1  Sabath 
o  Clock  —  this  I  suppose  would  be  the  case  evry 
day  were  they  at  perfect  liberty,  but  they  are  sensible 
that  I  must  commonly  be  at  School  by  9  o,  Cl.  &  in 
consequence  after  much  Noise,  a  great  deal  of 
Scolding  on  their  side,  &  a  shade  of  determination 
on  mine,  we  frequently  sit  down  by  5  minutes  before 
9  ...  Tis  sacrament  to  Day  for  that  reason 
our  English  Service  is  in  the  Afternoon  heard  a 
Mr  Morison  preach  in  the  Presbyterian  house  —  his 
Sermon  was  full  of  Scripture,  &  good  exhortation, 
but  without  any  connection  with  his  text  as  is  the 
Case  with  most  extempore  preachers  after 

service  was  called  to  my  window  by  the  horrid 
swearing  of  two  Negroes  who  were  fighting  most 
inhumanly  -  -  50  or  more  Spectators  were  soon  col 
lected  to  see  the  beastly  scene.  I  could  not  but 
reflect  upon  it  with  pain,  that  human  Nature  could 
divest  themselves  of  the  Dignity  of  our  Species, 
&  take  the  revenge  &  perform  the  Actions  which 
ought  to  be  peculiar  to  the  most  malicious  of  the 
brutal  race  — 

spent  part  of  the  Evening  very  agreeably  at  Mr 
Gansevoorts,  the  Sheriff  Tenbroack  came  in,  a  very 
agreeable  Man  -  We  walked  to  Mr  Lansings  & 
supt  with  him  —  all  were  exceeding  sociable  .  .  . 

Rose  from  Breakfast  more  than  half  past  9  A.  M.     Monday 
&  to  do  this  was  obliged  to  call  for  it  myself  &  sit          I4 
down  alone  —  heard  some  observe  as  I  past  them 


102  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

upon  my  late  hour  at  School  &  really  tho'  I  ever 
keep  my  hours,  it  makes  me  feel  disagreeable  to 
walk  the  streets  so  late  —  for  people  seldom  make 
the  suitable  allowance  It  was  apparent  that  I  was 
disgusted  in  the  morning,  &  to  make  some  com 
pensation  we  dined  y\  after  one  o  C.  —  Intended 
to  have  walked  out  this  Eve  but  the  rain  disap 
pointed  me.  Was  ordered  to  be  ready  at  a  minutes 
warning,  to  march  to  the  frontiers  as  twas 
rumoured  the  Enemy,  were  upon  the  Lake  or 
Mohawk  river  —  so  to  add  to  the  disagreeables  of 
my  situation  I  am  obliged  to  perform  military  Duty 
as  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  seem 
never  to  have  thought  the  promotion  of  Literature 
an  object  worthy  their  attention  —  consequently 
no  privaleges  are  allowed  or  favour  shown  to  those 
who  have  spent  their  time  &  fortune  in  the  pursuit 
of  it  -  A  Disposition  much  the  reverse  is  mani 
fest  in  the  liberal  provision  made  by  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  — 

Tuesday          This  Eve  Mr  Lovett  &  myself  sup'd  at  Mr  Scuylers 

xsth  spent  the  time  exceeding  sociably,  tarried  till   u 

o'Clock. 

16  In  the  afternoon  attended  Court  -  -  the  Cause 

was  an  Action  of  Trespass  —  Mr  Yates  &  Bray  were 
the  opposing  Attorneys  Y.  spoke  exceeding 
fluently,  with  a  great  deal  of  ease  &  discovers  much 
knowledge  of  the  Law  -  -  B.  was  much  embarassed 
—  seems  to  have  Ideas  but  no  words,  he  lost  his 
Cause.  — 

17th  The  5th  Aniversary  since  the  Capture  of  Burgoin 

rained,  &  but  little  parade  in  the  Celibration.  - 
Afternoon  attended  Court  —    An  Indictment  for 


Riot  was  tried  &  the  Party  found  Guilty,  no  plead 
ings  spent  the  Eve  with  Graham.  Vanveghten  two 
Lansings  &c  were  there  —  supt  with  them  at  D 
Schuylers  as  it  was  the  aniversary  of  the  surrender 
of  Cornwallis 
|?b-  A.  M.  heard  the  Dom.  preach,  John  17*  19th  .  .  . 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


103 


Judge  Hubbard  Hobart  —  Attorney  General  Ben 
son.  -  -  Mr  McKesson  Clerck  &  Col.  Varnek  Fork 
dined  with  us  -  Mr  Gilbert  came  in  while  at  dinner 
&  spent  the  Afternoon  with  me  —  about  sunset  we 
walked  with  Mr  Yates  —  fell  in  at  Lovetts  Chamber 
-  &  from  that  took  Tenbroeck  &  went  to  the  Sheriff 
Tenb.  &  spent  the  Evening  sociably  with  a  Mr 
Banker  supt  there,  came  home  about  10  o  Clock  & 
spent  the  remainder  of  the  Eve  in  filling  up  my 
Diary  — 

Were  obliged  to  sup  at  Col.  Corchran's  he  is  a 
man  of  little  Education,  some  sense  &  a  great  deal 
of  Vanity.  —  the  rest  of  the  family  so,  so  — 

Heard  our  Pupils  rehearse  a  Tragedy  preparing 
for  Quarter.  — 

Was  Introduced  to  Miss  S.  Lansing  a  very 
amiable  young  Lady  -  -  drank  Tea  with  her  spent 
the  Eve  at  Court  -  -  heard  Judge  Morriss  give  his 
opinion  upon  a  Cause,  very  full,  in  his  charge  to 
the  jury  &  their  Verdict  was  given  according  to  his, 
as  it  appeared,  prejudiced  charge. — 

Dined  with  Alderman  Hun.  The  Mayor,  Dom, 
Stephen  &  Phil.  V  Rensr.  D  TBroeck  &  Mr  Lovett 
were  present,  very  good  Diner  —  Dom.  had  not 
so  many  Lattin  proverbs  as  usual  .... 

Took  Tea  at  Col.  Corchrans,  heard  the  Tragedy 
rehearsed  again.  .  .  .  Slept  with  Mr  Lovett.  — 

In  the  afternoon  attended  Court  —  as  it  was  the 
last  day  of  the  Term,  the  Judgments  were  declared 
&  Sentences  given,  among  others  two  were  con 
victed  of  stealing  -  -  they  upon  their  knees  plead 
the  benefit  of  clergy,  which  exempted  them  from 
Death  the  Vallue  of  the  things  stolen  being  under 
10  £.  They  were  branded  on  the  left  Thumb  in 
presence  of  the  Court  &  dismissed.  - 

Afternoon  attended  Church.  -  In  the  Evening 
walked  to  Mr  Bloodgoods;  as  Miss  Lansing  was 
sitting  in  their  stoop  she  introduced  me  to  Miss 
Lydia  VanVeghten,  we  went  into  the  House: 


Monday 
21 


22 


Thursday 
24 


Fry day 

25'" 


th 


Sat. 
26 


Sab 
27 


iO4  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

conversation  was  pretty  lively  and  agreeable  till  the 
Company  was  increased  by  some  elderly  Gentlemen, 
Lawyers  &c.  they  had  a  pretty  Learned  Gentns 
discourse  on  one  side  of  the  Room,  while  a  Mr 
Banker  engrossed  the  Ladies  to  himself  on  the  other 
-  -  &  I,  in  the  midst,  joined  neither  --  as  I  tho't  my 
Design  in  visiting  was  principally  to  the  Ladies  I 
thought  my  attention  ought  principly  to  be  paid  to 
them,  while  they  &  the  Mr  B.,  as  I  tho't  impolitely, 
not  only  introduced  a  Subject  which  they  knew  me 
to  be  unacquainted  with,  as  it  respected  Company 
matters,  &  not  only  so,  but  ornamented  it  with  the 
grace  of  a  little  Dutch  diction  interspersed.  They 
saw  I  took  it  ill  &  made  some  vigorous  attempts  to 
introduce  a  Subject  in  which  I  might  join  them  — 
but  all  they  could  say  was  —  How  do  you  like 
Albany?  Have  you  ever  been  to  Schenectada? 
'tis  a  beautiful  Town  &c  &c.  supt  about  9  o  Clock 
—  shifted  my  position  got  among  the  Ladies  &  made 
conversation  a  little  more  agreeable  -  -  walked  with 
Miss  S.  Lansing  — 

Mond  After  School  visited  the  Sheriff  T  Broeck  spent 

a  pretty  agreeable  Evening,  supt  about  10  o  Clock. 

29  After  School  visited  at  Mr  S  Cuylers,  then  at  Mr 

Huns  &  ended  with  another  to  Miss  S  L-g  -  L. 
Van  V-n  was  there  &  K-n  V  R-r  &  C.  Ten  Broeck: 
spent  the  Eve  very  sociably  &  very  agreeably ;  supt 
about  10  o  Clock  walked  home  with  Miss  L.  V.,  bid 
them  goed-enau  Laster 

30.  Spent  the  afternoon  in  the  Academy  hearing  the 

Lads  rehearse  -  -  in  the  Evening  visited  Alderman 
SChuyler  —  he  is  a  pretty  sensible  Man  -  -  had  no 
great  Education  -  -  but  a  most  tenatious  Memory : 
came  home  at  8  &  found  a  Miss  Trunicliff  with  my 
Landlady,  supt  with  her.  she  appears  to  have 
the  command  of  a  good  many  words,  but  withal  very 
vain.  I  walked  with  her  to  her  Lodgings,  but  I'm 
sure  'twas  no  great  pleasure,  for  it  rained  hard,  so 
that  the  streets  were  most  abominably  muddy  —  & 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  105 

they  inform  me  this  is  entailed  upon  it  from  this 
Time  'till  the  return  of  another  Summer.  —  The 
Soil  is  of  a  heavy  Kind  easily  affected  by  a  small 
rain,  &  tho'  the  Sides  of  the  Streets  are  in  general 
paved,  yet  they  are  so  very  dirty  that  'tis  worse 
walking  even  on  them  than  on  the  ground  itself 
in  most  other  Towns;  add  to  this  the  water  con 
stantly  pouring  from  the  Spouting  Gutters  &  I'm 
sure  they  are  enough  to  give  one  a  prejudice  against 
the  place.  - 

Began  again  with  young  Provosts  Instruction.  -  Thursd. 
In  the  Evening  walked  out  with  V.  Veghten  to  Mr 
Bloodg.  to  his  namesake  Lydia;  spent  the  Eve 
sociably  -  she  is  a  person  of  Modesty,  not  very 
deep,  nor  much  read,  of  a  pretty  good  &  mild  dis 
position,  &  very  affable  -  -  supt  at  10  o  Clock 
&c 

Spent  the  Eve  at  Mr  Henries,  Mr  Lovetts  &  at     Fryday 
the  post  office  —  &  Sat.  afternoon  in  rehersing  with     Nov 
our  Lads,  -  -  too  Tea  with  Mr  Gillilan  &  promised 
to  dine  there  on  Sabbath. 

Breakfasted  before  I  went  to  Church.  -  The  Albany 
Dom.  preached  from  Ist  of  Isaiah  17^  Come  let  us 
reason  together  &c  -  -  dined  at  Mr  Gillilans  with  a 
pretty  agreeable  company  of  his  friends,  not  with 
so  much  brilliancy  as  is  seen  at  some  of  the  Dutch 
Tables.  He  is  an  Irishman — came  into  the 

country  young,  traded  at  N  York  till  he  acquired 
a  fortune,  this  he  employed  in  the  purchase  of 
Lands  upon  Lake  Champlain.  —  He  entered  them 
when  a  forest.  Had  got  a  beautiful  seat  well  culti 
vated  &  more  than  50  families  settled  —  when  he 
was  drove  from  it  &  all  burnt  by  the  fate  of  War  — 
He  is  now  at  Albany  with  his  family,  is  a  sensible 
man;  has  many  curious  turns  Has  an  extensive 
acquaintance  —  a  pretty  good  knowledge  of  human 
Nature  -  -  very  hospitable,  frank  &  open  in  his 
manners  - 

Lieu1  Thomson  joined  us  at  Tea  —  walked  then 


io6  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

to  the  patrons,  stop  at  the  ail-house  &  on  our  way 
home  at  Mr  Watrous  to  see  some  Ladies  —  did  not 
tarry  long 

Mond.  took  Tea  at  Judge  Yates,     Col  Throup  was  there 

4  laughed  heartily  &  had  most  of  the  conversation  - 

The  Judge  is  a  sensible,  humoursome  sociable,  witty 
&  agreeable  man,,  not  very  haughty  &  but  little  for 
show  -  -  his  wife  upbraided  him  for  his  want  of 
tast  in  dress  when  young,  She  is  a  Woman  of  great 
Spirits,  high  Notions,  &  not  very  neat,  can  swear  a 
little  now  and  then  on  occasion  .... 

5th  At  the  desire  of  a  Lady  (which  cannot  be  denied 

consistent  with  the  rules  of  Gallantry)  we  consented 
that  Miss  P.  Floyd  with  two  other  Ladies  should 
be  admitted  to  our  rehearsal,  as  she  wished  much 
to  hear  Miss  Yates,  &  was  going  out  of  town  before 
the  exhibition,  but  to  our  surprize  the  room  was 
crowded,  with  spectators  and  party  thro'  accident 
&  partly  from  the  officiousness  of  K  -  n  V.R  -  r 
while  we  had  no  scenery  --  dress,  or  apparatus,  one 
of  our  principle  Characters  gone  &  but  the  3d  or 
4th  time  of  rehearsing  -  -  however  they  went  thro' 
&  the  whole  was  crown'd  with  a  capshief  of  Albany 
politeness  x  x  x  x  x  deest  x  x  x  x  x  very  happily 
escaped  being  led  into  a  beastly  scene  of  wedding 
debauchery  increased  by  the  arbitrary  power  of  a 
Dictator  -  -  which  is  but  a  customary  visit  to  the 
Groom  the  day  after  Marriage  —  per.  Gr  -  m  Esq  — 

Wednesday      Quite  unwell  with  a  very  severe  cold.  -        Mr 

6th         Yates  gone  &  his  as  cross  as  the  Devil,  using 

evry  Mean  to  disoblige  me,  &  desending  so  low  in 

some  little  matters  of  boarding,  as  'twould  disgrace 

my  pen  &  Journal  to  write  them 

Thursday;       Spent  the  Evening  very  sociably  at  Mr  Henry 

8  Took  Tea  with  Lovett  -  -  came  home,  M™  Yates 
gone  out,  no  Candle,  or  Supper,  I  ordered  the 
servant  to  do  me  an  Errand,  the  impertinent  Miss 
Peggy  (in  attempting  to  imitate  her  mother  in 
impoliteness  &  ill  usage  to  me)  forbid  him  &  ordered 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 07 

him  back  I  soon  let  her  know  that  tho'  I  received 
&  bore  innumerable  Insults  from  that  family,  that 
I  should  brook  none  from  her  —  I  added  a  few 
strong  epithets  &  soon  gained  my  point  &  let  them 
know  with  a  good  deal  of  resolution  that  in  such  a 
matter  I  should  be  obeyed.  I  had  Supper  imme 
diately.  — 

Had  an  examination  of  the  pupils  of  our  Acad-  Sat. 
emy  The  Dom,  Mayor  &  a  number  of  other  9 
Gentlemen  attended,  examined  all  day  &  I  believe 
acquitted  ourselves  with  honour  &  acceptance,  no 
material  Accident  hap'ned.  -  took  Tea  at  Mr 
Henrys  -  Madam  Yates  much  more  sociable  & 
pliable  this  Eve  than  usual  —  &  of  consequence  I 
fair  much  better  -  I  find  that  by  a  great  deal  of 
submission  -  -  some  flattery  with  a  large  propor 
tion  of  that  obsequious  behavior  which  I  never  will 
submit  to,  I  may  live  in  peace,  (but  not  happily) 
she  is  Femina  sui  generis 

In  the  forenoon  heard  a  Sermon  from  Dr  Clarke     Albany 
upon  carnal  or  natural  &  spiritual  Marriage  &  to     NOVIO 
be  sure  he  had  some  very  curious  remarks  upon 
it  -       he  is  Author  of  the  wea  mouse  &c  -  -  in  the 
Afternoon  heard  D  Westerlo.      spent  the  Evening 
very  agreeably  at  Mr  L  Gansevorts,  in  company  with 
the  Gen,  &  recorder  of  the  same  name,  with  their 
wives,  had  a  good  supper 

Spent  the  Eve  at  Mr  Schuylers  &  rehearsal  Mond 

^  Changed  my  Lodgings ;  left  a  place  where  evry 
circumstance  conspired  to  make  it  most  detested,  13 
both  from  the  unpoliteness  of  the  family  &  a  woman 
from  whom  I  had  received  innumerable  insults  — 
in  exchange  for  evry  perfect  opposite.  —  my  sit 
uation  is  pleasant,  the  family  hospitable,  kind  & 
regular  &  one  that  display  the  most  order  &  greatest 
in  government  of  any  with  which  I  was  ever 
acquainted.  -  The  contrast  is  so  great  that  it 
really  affords  one  sensations  partly  pleasing,  & 
partly  painful,  pleasing  to  see  in  so  great  a  Degree 


io8  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

a  terrestrial  Display  of  the  first  Law  of  heav'n; 
painful  to  see  what  human  Nature  will  become 
without  its  blessed  restraint  —  I'm  sure  I  never 
can  forget  that  most  fell  disposition  —  accompanied 
with  so  much  Hypocrisy  &  so  many  Lies  So  many 
Insults  -  -  so  many  &  repeated  denials  of  favours, 
that  room  -  -  the  furniture  -  Sheets  -  -  wood  - 
Candles,  waiters  —  Government  of  family  --  irreg 
ularity  of  Meals  &  manners  when  at  Table  —  s.  — 
to  D  -  h  -  Hatt  on,  &  no  blessing  except  when 

strangers  present 

Thirsday          Moved  my  cloaths  &c  &  the  bare  position  in  whh 
J4  I    found   them   demonstrated   the   feelings   of   the 

family     . 

Sat  Was  employed  in  directing  the  place  of  the  Stage 

16  &c.      Mrs  Caldwell  the  Albany  Schoohnadam  was 

with  us,     She  is  a  sensible  Lady  -  -  has  a  sufficient 

opinion  of  her  good  sense  &  abilities,  &  is  very 

severe  in  the  manners  of  Youth 

i7th  Heard  Dom  Westerlo  &  Clarke  preach     . 

dined  with  Mr  Yates  - 

Mond  Had  an  invitation  to  dance,  agree'd  to  accept,  but 

18  at  ii  o  Clock  was  obliged  to  write  the  following 

Billet 

Sim  Baldwin  is  much  obliged  to  Mr  C  Ten  Broeck 
for  his  polite  invitation  to  dance,  &  as  he  knew 
neither  the  House  or  Company  is  still  obliged  to 
him  for  the  promise  of  a  Waggon  (he  never  sent) 
to  take  him  from  Mr  Lansings  where  he  tarried 
from  8  till  10  o'Clock.     .     .     . 
this  I  sent  the  next  morning  &  Mr  T.  B  -  k  imme 
diately  waited  upon  me  &  with  such  Apologies  & 
excuses  as  I  thought  sufficient  — 

This  morning  the  N.  river  was  frozen  over  .  .  . 
Thirsday  Have  been  much  employed  for  two  days  past  in 
preparing  the  apparatus  of  the  Stage  for  our  Aca 
demic  Exhibitions,  &  I'm  sure  'tis  laborious  much 
beyond  my  expectations  —  at  1 1  o  Clock  was  much 
alarmed  by  word  from  the  Mayor  that  we  were  pro- 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  109 

ceeding  irregularly  —  in  not  giving  the  Corporation 
a  formal  written  information  &  Invitation  to  our 
Exhibitions  —  we  went  to  his  house  &  made  our 
Apologies,  that  inasmuch  as  twas  a  matter  separate 
from  &  after  our  examination,  (to  which  we  did 
invite  them  &  waited  their  pleasure)  we  thot  it  not 
proper  to  trouble  them  as  a  bord,  but  to  give  them 
invitations  as  Individuals  —  he  told  us  he  informed 
us  merely  from  kindness  &  affection  &  tho'  at  a  late 
hour  he  would  except  of  the  invitation  now  —  we 
wrote  one  immediately;  he  call'd  for  the  Cryer 
(Marshall)  &  sent  him  round  with  all  the  pomp 
of  formal  Ceremony.  .  . 

We  had  900  Tickets  printed  which  we  distributed 
among  the  families  of  the  first  Character  in  the 
place  -  -  hoping  that  by  these  &  the  help  of  a  double 
Guard,  we  might  secure  a  comfortable  situation  for 
all  who  we  wished  to  have  present  but  to  our 
surprize  it  all  had  but  little  effect  the  house  was 
crowded  beyond  belief  -  -  our  side  scenes  were  full 
&  could  hardly  secure  the  Stage  —  The  front  of 
the  Judges  bench  was  broken  down  by  the  weight 
of  the  people  upon  it  -  -  &  the  disagreeable  scene 
attended  with  a  great  deal  of  noise,  &  unpoliteness 
to  each  other,  the  Speakers,  &  ourselves. 
We  endeavoured  to  entertain  them  with  a  Tragedy, 
the  MOURNING  BRIDE,  &  for  a  farce  the  Toy 
Shop  &  closed  with  the  farmers  blunder  —  the 
Youth  many  of  them  performed  exceeding  well, 
&  did  themselves  much  honor,  notwithstanding  the 
disadvantages  of  a  noisy  bable  .  .  .  Those  of 
the  Audience  that  I  have  conversed  with  confess 
themselves  much  pleased  with  the  performances  — 

but  that  the  croud  was  insupportable 

Slept  but  very  little  last  night  after  my  fatigue     22 
have  an  invitation  from  Mr  TenBroeck  to  Dance 
again,  I  suppose  to  make  up  for  former  treatment 
&  I'm  sure  tis  only  to  show  him  that  I  accept  of  his 
apologies,  that  I  promise  to  go 


no  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

Joined  our  family  at  Tea,  with  Mra  Badry  an 
agreeable  Lady  from  Philadelphia  —  Dress'd  &  set 
out  for  my  Dance  —  it  was  held  near  a  mile  out  of 
Town  &  we  were  all  escorted  in  Waggons,  our  Com 
pany  consisted  of  10  Couple  —  some  uneasiness 
soon  took  place  respecting  our  partners,  some  of 
the  Gentlemen  insisted  very  strongly  on  dividing 
by  Lottery,  others  upon  bespeaking  them  them 
selves.  As  I  was  a  stranger  &  twas  the  first  time 
of  my  being  admitted  into  the  Company  I  chose  not 
to  interfere  in  the  Dispute,  tho'  Mr  TenBroeck  had 
been  so  kind  as  to  engage  for  me  an  amiable  partner 
a  Miss  P.  Hogoboom.  -  They  at  length  made  a 
Lottery  &  Drew  -  -  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  find 
myself  honoured  with  Miss  S  Lansing  &  to  be  sure 
she  was  as  good  a  partner  as  any  in  the  room  & 
No.  i.  The  Dispute  however  had  run  so  high  & 
some  other  little  matters  attending  it,  made  it  an 
unsociable  Circle  I  myself  was  much  displeased 
&  I'm  sure  had  reason  for  it,  from  the  impoliteness 
of  some  who  entered  the  Head  of  our  Dance  com 
posed  of  six,  (Nancy  Dissor)  &  danced  it  down 
before  us,  turning  it  into  a  Country  Dance.  -  We 
had  a  pretty  good  Supper  &  tarried  till  2  o  Clock, 
escorted  my  partner  to  her  Home  .... 
Sat  agreed  to  take  the  small  pox  with  Mr  Henry's 

family;  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Corporation  for  leave 
to  retire  as  much  as  was  necessary  from  the  busi 
ness  of  the  Academy  -  Mr  Van  Neghten  visited 
me ;  informed  me  he  had  sent  a  Note  to  TenBroeck 
for  calling  him  a  rascal  —  &  he  was  willing  to  settle 
it  by  making  apologies  to  all  the  Ladies  -  in  the 
afternoon  took  Tea  with  my  partner,  found  her 
much  more  sociable  than  usual  I  suppose  to  make 
amends  for  some  little  misconduct  the  Evening 
before  —  found  Dr  Stringer  upon  my  return,  he 
gave  me  some  directions  respecting  our  future  diet, 
&  some  black  powders  for  that  Eve  —  &  a  portion 

Sabbath       °^  ^3^°  ^or  *ne  next  morning 

24  Took  my  physic  did  not  go  to  meeting  tho     it  had 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 1 1 

but  little  effect  —  Lady  Caldwell  dined,  took  Tea 
&  supt  with  us  —  her  greatest  fault  is  too  great  a 
manifestation  of  her  own  superiority  —  she  is 
certainly  sensible  but  too  censorious.  —  We  spent 
the  Evening  very  sociably,  gave  each  other  many 
high  Compliments,  the  subjects  of  Conversation 
were  religion  &  phylosophy  mostly  .  .  . 

From  the  Mercury  whh  I  have  taken  &  some  that       25 
I  put  upon  my  head  I  find  the  pours  so  opned  that 
inadvertantly  I  have  taken  a  cold  -  -  but  the  Doctor 
has  not  been  here  to  visit  me  this  Day  -  -  hope  to  be 
inoculated  on  the  morrow 

I  am  not  to  be  inoculated  till  Thirsday;  took  Tue 
some  more  of  the  Mercurial  powder  &  in  the  morn-  27 
ing  my  Physic.  -  -  attended  School  however.  At 
noon  Dr  Cochran  visited  me  &  very  prettily  intro 
duced  himself  with,  "I  am  Dr  Cochran"  as  there 
was  no  one  present  to  do  it  -  after  diner  rode  3 
or  4  miles,  come  home  to  Tea,  where  were  Mr 
Taylor  &  wife  a  sensible  Man  but  I  could  converse 
but  little ;  have  for  several  Days  felt  myself  under 
new  embarassments  -  -  my  animal  Spirits  quite 
exhausted,  my  Memory  almost  gone  &  what  little 
I  know  of  the  Sciences  seems  a  perfectly  confused 
&  indigested  Mass  &  so  almost  useless.  Upon  my 
word  I  think  upon  it  with  serious  concern  &  fear 
if  I  cannot  find  something  to  divert  my  attention  I 
shall  soon  fall  into  a  moping  melancholy  or  become 
perfectly  crazed.  I  impute  the  cause  of  it  to  the 
great  confinement  of  my  situation  added  to  the 
usage  of  an  inhuman  family  in  whh  I  lately  lived  — 
&  the  fatiguing  cares  of  bringing  on  a  Quarter 
which  admitted  of  no  respit  or  recreation  -  -  &  I 
may  still  add  the  want  of  surrounding  intimates 
(whom  I  have  heretofore  enjoyed,)  with  whom  I 
might  spend  the  social  hour  in  pleasing  conversa 
tion,  might  throw  off  the  heavy  cares,  unbend  the 
Soul,  &  reanimate  the  drooping  spirits  grown  dull 
by  fatiguing  Study  &  Business.  .  . 

A  great  change  of  the  weather  from  what  it  was       28*  ' 


1 1 2  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

yesterday,  being  pleasant  but  very  cold.  —  have 
just  had  the  operation  of  Inoculation  performed 
upon  me  by  Dr  Stringer ;  he  performs  it  with  a  great 
deal  of  ease ;  first  wets  his  Lancet  with  a  very  little 
of  the  Infection,  then  gently  raises  the  Skin  upon 
the  Arm  just  so  as  to  perceive  the  Blood ;  the  little 
orafice  is  then  rub'd  together  &  the  opperation 
ended  .  .  .  This  is  also  the  Day  appointed  by 
Congress  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  Thanksgiving. 
&  to  be  sure  tis  a  duty  each  Individual  owes  to  the 
author  &  giver  of  Mercies,  who  is  certainly  ever 
liberal  much  beyond  our  deserts  or  reasonable 
expectations,  &  /  certainly  have  reason,  perticularly 
at  this  Time,  for  Thanksgiving,  as  well  as  a  Day  of 
fasting  &  prayer  of  Thanks  that  the  giver  of  Life 
&  preserver  of  Health  has  been  pleased  to  moderate 
in  this  way  the  severities  of  the  most  terrible  dis 
order  to  which  human  Nature  is  subject;  that  he 
has  been  pleased  to  communicate  it  to  man  &  that 
I  at  this  time  may,  thro'  his  blessing  hope  to  receive 
its  salutory  assistance;  .  .  .  of  fasting  &  prayer, 
to  the  supreme  physician,  for  his  kindly  presence 
&  aid  to  moderate  the  severities  of  the  Decease,  for 
it  certainly  is  severe  even  to  those  who  have  it  but 
lightly  -  -  &  to  impress  my  Mind  with  an  entire 
dependence  upon  him,  that  I  may  know  where,  & 
to  whom  I  am  to  pay  my  thankful  Acknowledg 
ments,  if  it  please  that  mighty  Being  to  hand  me 
safely  through  it  ... 

It  gives  me  but  little  pain  that  my  health  would 
not  permit  me  to  enjoy  the  usual  externals  of  a 
Thanksgiving  Day.  -  since  the  Customs  are  so 
very  different  from  those  to  whh  I  have  been 
accostomed  in  N  England,  Tis  true  it  in  some 
measure  puts  a  stop  to  their  business  &  on  that 
account  seems  a  Damp  to  their  Spirits,  to  be  sure 
none  of  that  lively  Joy  whh  is  there  so  conspicuous 
&  seems  to  animate  the  Countenance  of  all  we  meet, 
is  visible  here.  They  have  no  extraordinary  Din- 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 1 3 

ner,  nor  in  their  cookery  do  they  at  all  deviate  from 
the  usual  custom  of  each  Day,  &  I  could  wish  that 
I  had  reason  to  think  that  what  is  wanting  in 
external  show,  was  replaced  in  the  superior  Devo 
tion  &  sincerity  of  their  service,  for  they  have  two 
meeting's  in  the  Day,  in  the  afternoon  a  Charity 
Sermon.  — 

Very  cold;   the  river  closed  &  bids  fair  for  the     Fryday 
setting  in  of  Winter  -       am  very  well  in  Health  &       29 
I  think  more  lively  from  my  low  diet  than  before  I 
began 

This  morning  took  4  pills  I  suppose  mercurial  —     Sat, 
was  never  better  in  health  —  have  not  for  a  week     ^ov 
back  tasted  Meat  -      but  am  sure  from  the  extraor-     1782 
dinary  kindness  of  our  family  I  have  scarce  reason 
to  complain  of  my  Diet  -       in  the  morning  I  break 
fast  upon  Coffee  with  Buiskit  or  a  dry  Toast  of  the 
best  Bread  that  ever  I  ate  &  to  relish  it  have  cooked 
Apples    my  Dinner  is  commonly  chickenbroath  with 
toasted  Bread,  &  finished  with  a  bit  of  Apple  pie.  - 
with  Tea  I  have  butterd  Buisket  &  apples,  &  I  sup 
as  I  breakfasted  unless  favoured  with  a  dish  of  very 
good  Suppaun  -  -  in  short  I  have  more  reason  to 
fear  I  live  too  well  for  the  Disease  than  to  make  the 
usual  complaints  - 

In  the  course  of  the  week  have  dream't  of  Dr 
Wood  &  family  &  of  my  distant  Dulcinea  -  Have 
refused  a  part  whh  I  was  importuned  to  take  in  a 
Tragedy  with  Mr  Lovett  &  some  Officers  in  the 
place.  -  It  was  a  good  excuse  that  I  was  under 
Innocn  tho'  I  had  more  weighty  reasons  -  -  in  the 
first  place  we  were  in  an  unkind,  unsociable,  & 
unhospitable  place  -  -  &  all  strangers  from  this; 
they  might  think  us  assuming  —  in  the  next  place 
the  people  are  many  of  them  good  Judges  of 
Theatrical  performances,  which  they  have  fre 
quently  seen  in  New  York  &  heretofore  in  this 
place.  —  while  were  all  of  us  entirely  ignorant  & 
unexperienced  in  this  kind  of  speaking  —  &  wanted 


ii4  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

scenery  &  room,  &  might  therefore  reasonably 
expect  in  so  large  a  field  of  wants,  there  would  be 
room  enough  for  the  Malevolence  &  critical  Obser 
vations  of  the  maliciously  disposed  .  .  Add  to 
this  the  expence  of  Time  &  money  with  the  difficulty 
of  procuring  a  suitable  Dress,  &  I  think  it  dear 
bought  fame,  even  if  success  &  applause  should 
crown  their  Labours  —  but  if  not,  that  if,  con 
cludes  a  Hiss !  -  -  tho  I've  reason  to  hope  better  of 
them,  I'd  not  run  the  risque.  —  These  disadvan 
tageous  circumstances  &  the  danger  of  displeasing 
the  parents  of  our  School  by  encroaching  upon 
school  Hours  &  drawing  off  the  Attention  from  the 
business  of  it,  make  it  a  pleasing  reflection  to  me 
that  I'm  free  from  it  —  &  from  the  Affection  I  bear 

Mr  Lovett  I  wish  him  as  much  so 

Sab.  Intended  to  go  to  meeting,  but  was  prevented  by 

1  a  potion  of  physic  which  I  was  obliged  to  take  this 

morning,  &  to  be  sure  it  was  powerful  enogh  to 
keep  me  in  full  employ.  -       Mrs  Caldwell  &  a  Sister 
of  Mrs  Hendrie  dined  with  us,  &  I  upon  my  broath 
Monday  Visited  Mr  Yates  for  the  second  time  since  I  left 

Dec  2**  his  Table  -  -  He  gave  me  many  hypocritical  pro 
fessions  of  friendship,  &  began  immediately  with 
"had  not  I  better  begin  directly  upon  the  study  of 
the  practice  of  Kings  bench  —  that  the  Rule  of 
Court  was  that  none  be  admitted  to  the  practice 
without  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  -  -  with 
a  proviso  however  in  favour  of  those  whose  Studies 
had  been  interrupted  by  the  Course  of  the  War  .  . 
then  added,  there  were  such  &  such  Young  Gentle 
men  pursuing  the  Study  of  Law  with  expectations 
of  having  the  rule  of  court  set  aside  once  more  to 
favour  them  -  -  if  that  should  happen  he  said  I 
might  depend  on  his  friendship  &  Assistance  to  for 
ward  the  like  pretensions  in  me.  I  sincerely 
thanked  him  for  his  kindness  (so  formally  ex 
pressed)  &  made  my  situation,  Smalpox,  an  apology 
for  not  immediately  entering  upon  the  Study  with 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 1 5 

double  Vigor.  —  I  was  acquainted  with  his  ready 
promises  —  knew  the  disposition  of  the  Bar  which 
would  all  oppose  —  &  the  example  of  Mr  Gilbert 
was  fresh  in  my  memory  —  In  short  instead  of 
Law,  I  asked  for  the  loan  of  Sterns  Tristram 
Shandy  .  . 

Took  Tea  at  Col.  Cochrans  after  a  short     Viz 
at  Mr  Vernon's     .     .     . 

Took  pills  in  the  morning     .     .  3 

Am  as  yet  perfectly  well  except  the  natural  con-     4 
sequences  of  a  potion  of  powdered  Jallap,  which 
keeps  me  very  busy     .     .     in  the  Evening  made  a 
Visit  at  Mra  Lansings     .     .     . 

Eight  Days  complete  since  my  Inoculation  &  I     Fryday 
am  perfectly  Well  -  -  upon  going  to  Bed  found  my 
Arm  a  little  stiff  -   -  it  soon  grew  sore  underside 
near  my  body  &  before  morning  I  found  myself 
wakened  by  a  pain  in  my  Head  —  &  neck  but  not 
violent     . 
Am  better  after  geting  up  &  taking  the  Air  -  -  took    7 

another  portion  of  Jallap Had  a 

most  restless,  painful,  Night,  such  pains  in  my 
boans,  back,  &  Head,  to  be  sure  I  never  before 
experienced  . 

a  little  better  this  morning  but  no  appetite  felt  8 
inactive  &  dull  -  -  soon  fell  upon  my  Bed  -  -  when 
the  Dr  came  in,  he  insisted  on  my  getting  up  & 
walking,  I  walked  with  him  accordingly  for  near 
a  mile,  tho'  I  was  so  weak  I  could  hardly  go,  &  there 
was  a  Damp,  heavy  snowstorm,  yet  it  had  the 
desired  effect  I  came  home  much  better  than  I 
went  out,  &  tho'  the  weather  proved  very  cold  in 
the  afternoon  I  repeated  the  experiment,  &  doubt 
not,  but  if  I  had  got  from  bed  &  taken  the  Air  the 
last  night  would  have  saved  me  many  painful 
hours  -  my  pain  diminishes  but  I  have  but  little 
appetite.  -  A  melancholy  accident  hapned  this 
day  from  a  sudden  gust  of  wind,  which  took  the 
roof  from  off  a  barn,  which  fell  upon  4  children, 


n6  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

wounded  the  head  of  one,  broke  the  arm  of  another, 
broke  the  Leg  of  a  third,  &  put  out  the  hip  & 
wounded  the  Head  of  the  other. 

Monday  Spent  the  last  night  with  more  ease  &  slept  con- 

siderable  .  .  Mr  Lovett  slept  with  me,  he  came 
in  early  in  the  Eve  with  Maj  Sill.  —  The  Dom. 
Westerlo  did  me  the  honour  to  pay  me  a  Visit  to 
day  &  Alderman  Hun  in  the  Afternoon  &  very 
kindly  desired  me  to  send  to  his  house  if  I  wanted 
Fouls  or  fresh  meat  or  any  thing  of  that  kind  which 
he  had  &  it  should  be  at  my  service  -  -  Mra  Mayor 
TenBrock  sent  her  Compliment  with  an  offer  of 
sweetmeats  or  anything  of  that  nature  which  should 
be  palateable  &  make  my  sickness  more  tollerable  - 
am  pretty  well  to  day  when  in  the  Air  -  -  have  a 
few  pocks  which  made  their  appearance  in  the 
night 

Tuesd.  In  the  morning  a  few  more  pocks,  some  few 
eruptions  in  my  face  felt  almost  (free)  from  pain, 
walked  towards  the  Markett  &  received  the  con 
gratulations  of  all  who  knew  me  -  Alderman 
Rens'laer  asked  me  to  his  house,  I  went,  his  3 
children  full  &  just  turning.  .  after  dinner  took 
Tea  at  the  Mayors,  their  little  Child  almost  covered 
with  the  pocks,  but  recovering,  Spent  the  Eve  at  Mr 
A  Lansings  -  -  Mr  Bartholomew11  came  in.  no  one 
knew  him ;  had  a  Letter  for  Mr  Lovett  for  Money 
as  he  had  met  with  many  misfortunes,  &  wanted 
business 

ii.  At  Home  all  Day;  sore  throat 

Thursd.  Mr  Bartholomew  dined  &  took  Tea  with  me     he 

concludes  to  go  down  the  river  to  a  place  called 
Cosocca  &  there  enter  upon  the  practice  of  Physic, 
by  recommendations  &  supply  from  Dr  Stringer  — 
Mr  Lovett  lets  him  his  Horse  &c  —  he  will  go  as 
soon  as  the  Horse  can  be  brought  from  across  the 
river.  —  spent  the  Evening  in  improving  &  lively 

11  Phineas  Bartholomew  (Yale,  Class  of  1778). 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


117 


Conversation  with  Lady  Caldwell.  .  .  still  very 
sore  throat. 

Spent  the  forenoon  in  School,  in  the  afternoon 
waited  on  Dr  Bartholomew  —  played  several 
games  of  chequers  -  -  he  slept  with  me  —  tho  I  had 
a  very  disagreeable  night,  my  pox  about  turning 
gave  me  the  Nap  effectually  &  to  be  sure  in  the 
middle  of  the  night  I  slept  but  little,  till  I  got  up  & 
shook  them  off  -  the  pox  on  my  tongue  &  in  my 
throat  are  indeed  very  sore 

Am  still  unwell  beside  my  sore  throat  —  feel 
low  in  spirits  tho  this  Day  is  the  21  Aniversary  of 
my  birth.  -  I  began  a  letter  of  Thanks,  which  I 
thought  suitable  to  the  occasion,  to  my  Parents  for 
their  Kindness  &  parental  Affection  which  they  ever 
manifest  towards  me  -  was  not  able  to  finish  it 
on  account  of  my  health  I  have  7  pox  on  my 
Tongue  &  many  in  my  Throat  which  then  amazing 
sore  &  my  head  withal  so  very  disordered  that  I 
could  not  lie;  was  obliged  to  get  up  &  send  to  the 
Dr  for  an  Anodyne,  it  had  its  desired  effect. 

Grow  better :  the  pox  begin  to  dry  &  my  throat 
almost  well 

DIARY  4  — 

This  day  I  returned  to  the  business  of  my  school, 
evry  thing  returned  to  the  former  channel 

Mr  Phelps,  a  young  Gentleman  from  the  East 
ward,  came  with  thoughts  of  opning  an  apothe 
caries  Shop  in  the  place  he  had  Letters  of  recom- 
endation  from  Dr  Lathrop,  with  whom  he  studied, 
to  Mr  Lovett  &  myself 

waited  on  Dr  Phelps  to  Dr  Youngs,  took  Tea 
there  -      he  seemed  to  encourage  the  Design     . 
Mr  Phelps  came  home  &  supt  with  me,  Van  Neghten 
visited  me 

Went  to  meeting  all  Day  for  the  first  after  Small 
pox  —  washed  myself  in  the  morn,  feel  myself 
much  relieved  from  a  most  heavy  —  Disagreeable 


Fryday 

1782 
Dec. 


Dec 

14 
1782 


Sab.& 
Mond. 
16 


Albany 
Dec  17 
1782 

Tuesday 
Fryday  19. 


Sat. 

20 


Sab. 

21 


1 1 8  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

Load  which  must  attend  any  one  who  has  not  had 
the  Small  pox,  when  in  such  a  place  as  this  —  can 
therefore  at  this  time  with  propriety  &  devout  sin 
cerity  return  my  many  thanks,  to  the  mighty  God 
who  made  me  —  to  the  merciful  God  who  has  so 
long  preserved  me  &  shown  such  indulgent  favours, 
to  the  great  Phisician  wh.  has 

at  this  time  in  particular  assisted  me,  &  to  the  most 
Gracious  God  who  allows  degenerate  mortals  to 
express  that  gratitude  which  is  so  justly  his  due  - 

Tuesday          Dismissed  the  Academy  till  the  Day  after  new 

Dec  23  Year,  agreeable  to  the  custom  of  Holy-days  in  this 
place  -  -  with  this  proviso  that  if  any  wished  to 
attend,  we  would  open  School  on  Monday  &  Tues 
day  -  Spent  the  Evening  at  Mr  Gillilans  with 
Messra  Lovett  &  Phelps  .  .  . 

Wednesd.         Christmas,  Mr  Lovett  by  invitation  dined  with 
us  &  spent  the  afternoon  &  evening  in  playing  Cards 
&c.  &.  to  be  sure  we  had  a  pretty  merry  Christmas  - 
26  I  dined  at  Mr  Lansings  --  spent  much  of  the  Day 

with  Mr  Lovett  talking  about  our  Dulcineas. 

Monday  It  snow'd  for  the  first  time  this  Season  £  by  the 

next  morn  about  6  Inches  deep.  The  circumstances 
of  Albany  are  such  that  no  place  is  more  affected 
with  the  want  of  snow.  They  depend  entirely  upon 
this  for  their  wood,  Grain,  Trade,  &  almost  evry 
convenience  of  Life  &  much  of  its  pleasures.  The 
people  had  long  wished  for  it.  -  -  &  to  be  sure  the 
Joy  was  manifest  upon  evry  Countenance,  upon  its 
falling,  &  the  frozen  paths  seemd  warm'd  with  Life 
£  action.  — 

Wednesday  Had  much  merriment  in  making  the  Compli- 
ments  of  the  Season,  received  a  Cuckey  according 
to  the  Custom  of  the  place  .  .  from  Mra  Henry. 
Took  Tea  at  Mr  Scuylers  -  3  European  Holland 
ers  were  present  -  spent  the  Eve  at  Mr  Vadnor's 
—  Dr  Young  was  present  &  played  Chess  -  came 

home  &  wrote  Letters  to  N  Haven 

Attended  the  Academy  according  to  appointment 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 1 9 

had  but  one  student  present,  &  in  the  Afternoon 
none  — 

Was  surprised  to  find  Tenbroeck  &  V  Renselear12  Fryday 
pay  me  a  visit  from  new  Haven  —  I  had  but  just 
sent  them  a  packect.  They  brought  me  but  one 
Letter  -  from  Crocker.13  Mrs  Vadnor  paid  us  a 
visit  in  the  Eve.  The  two  Mr  Henrys  &  myself  sat 
down  for  a  sociable  game  of  whist  —  Young  Mr 
Henry  &  myself  were  partners  -  we  had  beat 
them  2  rubbers  which  was  a  little  disagreeable  to 
the  old  Gentleman  (who  is  an  excellent  Gamester 
at  Whist)  &  were  like  to  win  the  last  game  of  the 
third  -  -  when  Mr  Vadnor,  thro  mistake  dropt  a  5, 
&  lost  the  trick  when  he  had  the  Queen  &  Jack  which 
would  have  saved  it,  The  old  Gentleman,  who  has 
a  temper  unhappily  quick  -  -  threw  his  cards  across 
the  table  in  a  violent  passion  &  left  the  room  -  We 
were  not  so  much  surprized,  because  we  had  fre 
quently  seen  it,  tho'  hardly  to  so  great  a  degree. 
&  I  never  saw  him  play  an  evening  without  mani 
festing  some  of  it  -  I  myself  had  him  once  for  a 
partner  &  thought  he  used  me  rather  roughly.  — 
He  soon  returned  again  -  -  had  some  reflections 
upon  the  bad  play  -  when  Mr  Bob.  Henry  unhap- 
ily  made  this  true  observation  that  he  manifested 
so  much  temper  that  nobody  chose  to  play  with 
him.  -  the  truth  is  not  always  to  be  spoken  -  -  it 
spur'd  the  old  Gent.ns  Hobby-Horse,  when  that  is 
effectively  pricked,  tis  very  apt  to  run  away  with 

the  rider Mr  Henry  to  be  sure  called 

Bobby  much  to  nought,  &  accused  him  of  irrever 
ence  &  disrespectful  treatment  &  ingratitude,  which 
he  had  long  born  but  would  no  more  -  Bobby 
replyd  he  knew  he  had  been  obliged,  but  ever  dis 
charged  his  obligations  with  Gratitude  —  Mrs 
Henry  came  in  much  distressed,  we  all  tried  what 

12  Jacob  Rutsen  Van  Rensselaer  (Yale,  Class  of  1786). 
"Daniel  Crocker  (Yale,  Class  of  1782). 


1 20  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

was  in  our  power  to  pacify  them  but  to  no  avail  — 
they  carried  matters  on  both  sides  to  great  ex 
tremes  —  even  agreed  to  separate  &  that  Mr  Bob 
should  seek  his  lodgings  somewhere  else  .  .  but 
upon  the  whole  I  must  think  the  old  Gentleman 
much  the  most  to  blame  he  certainly  led  the  way 
to  all  the  excess  .  .  we  at  last  with  much  per- 
swasion  got  them  to  supper  &  I  shifted  the  con 
versation  as  soon  as  I  could  find  opportunity. 
Albany  After  Breakfast  Mr  Henry  asked  me  to  take  a 

Tan*1*  r^e  m  ^e  Sleigh  we  went  to  the  flatts  -  to 
^783  Major  &  Col.  Schylers.  —  had  a  pretty  clever  ride  - 
Young  Mr  Henry  is  very  busy  in  adjusting  his 
accounts  -  is  determined  upon  new  Lodgings  .  .  . 
I  said  much  to  prevent  it,  &  hope  they  may  be  recon 
ciled,  tho'  he  &  his  uncle  have  not  exchanged  a  word 
to  Day  . 

M.  6.  The  Mr  Henrys  settled  the  unhappy  difference.  - 

Wednesday      Very  cold,     The  Patroon  took  Mr  Lovett  &  my- 
jan.8          se|£  -nto  sieigh  to  Mr  John's  VR-ss-r  to  converse 
upon  the  subject  of  our  Society  of  4>  B  K  ;   agreed 
to  hold  meetings  here  &  desired  me  to  write  for  a 
Charter  &  Laws  -  -  wh  I  did  that  night. 

IQ&II  There  fell  a  Snow  of  near  18  Inches.  -        Was 

introduced  to  2  young  Gentlemen  by  the  name  of 
Payne  from  Worcester,  who  appeared  to  be  most 
accomplished  &  agreeable  Persons  -    -  the  one  a 
Druggist     They  took  Tea  &  supt  with  us,  together 
with  Mr  Williams  an  Atty  from  Pitsfield. 
Janyi2th          Attended  service  in  the  Dutch  Church  A.  M.  - 
Sab.  1783      p   M   heard  a  Episcopn.     he  afforded  us  an  excel 
lent   Sermon      Dined  by   Invitation   at   P.    Yates 
Esq.  --  &  spent  part  of  the  Eve  at  Dr  Young's  with 
Miss  Eunice  Brown  &  Mr  Henry.  — 
Monday       Evening  I  spent  at  M"  Lansing  visiting  Miss  Sally, 

*3  after  taking  Tea  at  Mr  Phil  VRensselaer's 

Tuesday  Mr  Mosely  came  into  Town  from  Con1  had  a 
circle  of  friends  at  my  chamber  &  spent  a  sociable 
evening  over  a  Bowl  or  two  of  punch — 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 2 1 

formed  a  party  for  a  ride  on  pleasure  to  Schenec-  Wednesday 
tada  -  sat  out  about  2  o  Clock  —  &  arrived  at 
Sch.  about  dusk  after  a  very  cold  ride  —  spent 
part  of  the  Evening*  in  the  singing-school  —  had 
an  elegant  supper  at  Lewis  Tavern  with  some  Com 
pany  of  the  place  —  next  morning  Walked  round  l6 
the  Town  before  Breakfast  found  the  situation, 
being  upon  a  large  plain,  to  be  very  agreeable  —  the 
Town  large,  equal  to  any  in  Connecticut  —  &  very 
regular  in  the  streets  -  -  Breakfasted  &  got  into  our 
Sleigh  about  no  Clock  —  I  had  the  good  pleasure 
to  meet  Mr  Lockwood  very  unexpectedly  at  this 
Tavern  -  -  he  set  out  soon  after  us  for  Albany  — 
we  came  to  Albany  about  i.  &  the  funeral  of  Gen 
eral  Lord  Stirling14  was  attended  with  much  pomp 
at  4  .  .  Mr  Lockwood  took  Tea  with  me  &  spent 
the  Eve  with  Major  Sill  &  Jackson  —  wrote  a 
letter  to  Miss  Wood  .  . 

Fryday     Mr  Mosely  returned  &  I  was  a  little  sur-        17 
prized  that  he  never  called  to  let  me  know  it.  — 

Mr  Henry  invited  me  to  go  into  the  country  with  lgth 
him  &  Mr  Vadnor  for  a  ride  &  as  twas  Saturday  I 
agreed  to  accept  it  -  we  sat  out  about  10  o  Clock, 
the  day  very  pleasant  .  .  went  thro'  the  new 
City,  a  very  pleasant  pretty  little  country  place,  on  a 
plain  large  enough  for  a  large  City  —  arrived  at  Mra 
People's  at  Half  moon  at  dinner  time,  our  next 
stage  was  at  Mr  Schyler's  at  Stillwater ;  was  intro 
duced  to  his  daughter  Else  a  pretty  sensible,  but  not 
handsome  Miss  -  we  made  but  little  stay  -  stopt 
a  little  at  Mr  Varnor's  farm  (beautifully  situated 
on  the  river)  on  our  way  to  Ensigns,  where  we 
lodged;  spent  the  Evening  very  agreeably  -  -  had 
plenty  of  good  punch  -  -  slept  with  an  Arche  Mc- 
Neal.  ( You  must  lie  the  back  side,  Neighbour. ) 

14  William  Alexander,  who  claimed  unsuccessfully  to  be  entitled  to 
the  earldom  of  Sterling.  He  was  a  Major  General  in  the  Continental 
army. 


122  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

19  The  next  morning  before  Breakfast  we  rode  to 
Saratoga  —  passed  Gen   Schylers   seat  which   is 
certainly  very  grand  —    he  has  an  interval  of  6  or 
700  acres  all  in  a  piece  upon  the  Banks  of  the  Hud 
son,  &  upon  a  Creek  that  runs  thro  them  several 
very  stately  mills  for  grinding  &  sawing,     the  sit 
uation  &  prospect  good     .      .     we  passed  the  fort 
&  Barrack  which  are  a  little  beyond  &  Breakfasted 
at  Mahoney's      .      .      came  back  to  Ensigns  to 
Dinner.  —     after  the  satisfaction  of  viewing  the 
place  &  ground  where  Burgoyne  &  his  army  sur 
rendered,      we  had  passed  the  place  of  battle  the 
day  before  -  -  the  works  were  still  visible  extending 
for  near  a  Mile  back  from  the  river  into  the  woods, 
upon   Bemus   Heights  •         Burgoyne's   entrench 
ments  were  nearly  as  extensive,  at  about  a  miles 
distance.  -       We  took  Tea  in  the  afternoon  with 
Miss  Schyler  &  lodged  at  Mrs  Peebles ;  had  a  merry 
Evening  with  the  Ladies  -       the  drift  of  all  the 
jokes  was  centered  upon  Mr  Henry  &  Miss  Rosy  — 

20  Till  we  almost  offended  them.     We  brokefast  there 

—  took  Toddy,  for  want  of  punch,  at  Mollenbeek's 
&  reach'd  home  about  10  Clock     .     . 

27  received  Letters  &  some  shirts  from  home  by  Mr 

Lord.  -  Took  Tea  with  Mr  John  VR  -  r.  over  the 
river  —  &  the  next  Saturday  he  waited  on  me  with 
a  Sleigh  to  Mr  S  Dow's.  - 

Monday  —  spent  the  Eve  at  Mr  Judge  Yates,  Peter  Do.  & 
Gen  Ten  Brock  there  I  had  the  Honor  to  see  &  be 
introduced  to  Miss  Peggy  Schyler  &  I  might  have 
mentioned  her  mother  first  —  waited  on  them 
across  the  Street  to  Mr  Taylors  without  mine  Hatt. 

—  supt  with  young  Ten  Broeck  &  his  good  mother ; 
he  made  me  a  present  of  Doolittle     new  Col.  of 
psalm  Tunes 

Tuesday  —  by  Invitation  supt  at  peter  Yates  with  Mr  &  Mre 
Tea  Bout,  Col.  Levingston  &  Mr  Lovett 

Wednesday  —  Mr  Lovett  &  Brother  dined  with  us  after  dinner 
Mr  Henry  took  us  all  in  sleigh  to  Col  Van  Schoon- 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


123 


hoven's  at  Half  Moon :  twas  a  beautiful  ride  most 
of  the  way  on  the  Ice  &  we  were  treated  with  the 
greatest  Complisance  &  hospotality  —  spent  the 
Eve  at  Phil  Renss'rs  &  Gillalands  .  . 

So  exceeding  cold  did  not  go  to  meeting  —  spent 
part  of  the  Eve  at  Mr  Gillilands  — 

Mr  Lovett  &  I  went  for  a  Viz,  to  Mr  Shaws  & 
as  Mr  Graham  &  his  Lady  were  absent  we  spent  the 
Eve  till  near  120  Clock  at  Mr  Gillilands :  had  a  little 
family  Dance.  — 

—  took  punch  at  noon  with  Mr  IVTClellen  &  by  his 
invitation  spent  the  Eve  &  supt  with  him  -  had  a 
merry  Game  of  whist  -  -  he  &  I  opposed  Mr  Henry 
&  Lovett,  &  we  won  a  rubber  — 

Took  Tea  at  Jacob  Cuyler  —  &  entered  a  com 
plaint  about  his  Son  John  —  received  his  confession 
&  promise  &  of  amendment. 

took  Tea  at  Peter  Yates  &  supt  with  Alderman 
Hun.- 

Examination  in  the  Academy.  Supt  again  with 
the  same  company  as  on  thursday  with  Mr 
Mc  Clellen  — 

Dined  with  a  pretty  large  Circle  at  Mr  James 
Varnors  -  He  is  a  well  built,  handsome  Bache 
lor  of  32  --  is  naturally  sensible  read  considerable, 
travelled  more,  &  frequented  a  great  deal  of  Com 
pany  &  that  very  good  —  was  once  much  of  a 
buck  -  but  is  reformed,  —  has  a  pretty  estate  & 
is  exceeding  hospitable  -  -  &  upon  the  whole  is  a 
man  of  Pleasure  —  &  independent  Sentiment.  - 

I  was  so  unhappy  as  to  wound  the  feelings  of  a 
Baptist,  Mr  Barry  who  was  in  the  Circle  by  intro 
ducing  the  observations  made  by  Stern  upon  their 
anteborn  Baptisms  --  slops  Oath,  &c  .  .  I  soon 
perceived  the  mistake  &  endeavoured  to  take  off  the 
edge  by  observing  upon  the  too  great  freedom  & 
severity  of  the  author  —  for  tis  ever  against  my 
principle  to  ridicule  any  one  of  whatever  perswai- 
sion  when  sincerity  &  a  consciousness  of  rectitude 


Sunday 
Feb.  2 

Tuesday  4 


Wednesday 
5 


Albany 

Feb6 

1783 

Fryday 
7 


9th 


124 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


Fryday  II 
Wed. 

12 


13 


Fryday 
14 


of  Conduct  are  evident  —  for  under  that  rule  I 
have  charity  for  all.  —  spent  the  Eve  too  with 
Mr  Varnor  &  attempted  to  sup  but  had  the  mortifi 
cation  to  be  so  sick  by  smoaking  as  to  have  no 
appetite. 

Spent  the  Eve  at  Col.  Cochrans,  had  two  or  3 
games  of  whist  &c  &  came  home  early.  — 

Visited  Mr  Graham    found  the  little  pair  at  home, 
thought  they  cared  but  little  about  our  company  - 
&  I  am  sure  'twas  mutual 

Made  a  little  visit  in  the  Eve  at  Sheriff  T.Broecks 
Maggy  was  Ironing  &  not  a  little  mortified  -  I 
went  from  there  to  P.  Yates  &  supt;  found  the  old 
Lady  much  more  sociable  than  usual  -  -  a  little 
reformed  from  brutallity  •  •  but  still  the  rough 
manners  of  the  children  would  disgrace  a  family  of 
far  less  pretentions  than  theirs.  -  I  might  have 
observed  too  that  I  took  Tea  at  Mr  Bloodgoods  with 
a  large  Circle  -  -  among  the  rest  was  a  Miss  Caty 
Dyckman  -  -  a  great  Bell  -  -  much  for  Dress  -  -  & 
a  little  affected  -  -  was  formerly  from  New  York  - 
had  Travelled  a  good  deal  &  read  considerable  —  I 
had  not  the  pleasure  to  be  introduced  to  her  -  -  but 
she  evidently  manifested  a  desire  to  form  my 
acquaintance  -  -  gave  me  a  fair  opportunity  -  -  to 
offer  my  Arm  &  escort  her  home  more  than  half  a 
mile  &  I  am  almost  ashamed  to  say  it  that  my 
embarassment  in  having  two  or  three  married 
Ladies  to  accompany  another  way  (which  however 
on  such  an  occasion  might  have  been  dispensed 
with)  —  &  my  want  of  acquaintance  with  the  world, 
mankind  &  Company,  prevented  me  from  making 
the  suitable  apologies  on  either  side  —  so  I  left  Miss 
Caty,  (not  however  without  several  gentlemen  in 
the  House  that  might  accompany  her)  &  waited  on 
Mra  Henry  &  Mre  Barry  -  -  &  then  reflected.  .  . 

Mr  Lovett  &  myself  sat  out  for  a  visit  at 
Cloverack  &  Cocksocea  —  left  Albany  about  noon 
dined  with  Capt  Woodworths  —  had  his  sleigh  & 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


125 


servant  &  after  an  agreeable  ride  on  good  Slighing 
we  passed  thro'  Kenderhook  to  our  destined  port 
that  Evening  -  took  lodgings  at  Hogebooms  - 
he  has  three  very  amiable  Daughters  -  -  we  were 
soon  admitted  into  their  room  by  the  old  Lady  — 
after  first  calling  them  out  and  passing  the  "How 
do  you  does"  we  soon  fell  into  a  round  of  very 
agreeable  Chitchat,  -  -  had  cards  at  pleasure  &  all 
conspired  to  make  our  Time  happy  &  visit  agree 
able  --  supt  at  9  &  sat  up  till  ^2  past  10  — 

We  tarried  in  the  place  all  day  —  visited  &  dined 
with  Mr  Gilbert  -  afternoon  took  the  Ladies  into 
the  sleigh  &  visited  at  a  Mr  Tenbroacks  there  were 
two  young  old  Ladies,  returned  about  dusk  took 
a  short  Eveningside  &  compleated  a  scene  similar 
to  the  last  nights.  -  -  formed  an  acquaintance  with 
a  Mr  Peter  TBroecker 

After  Breakfast  rode  to  Judge  Morris's  spent  an 
hour  or  two  &  crossed  the  river  to  Cocksocea  found 
the  Dr  Bartholomew  &  Capt  Vanscoyk  were  gone 
to  Albany  -  -  this  obliged  us  tho'  contrary  to  our 
expectations  to  proceed  home,  accordingly  after 
dinner  we  set  out  -  -  stopt  at  Col.  Nicoll's;  he  & 
family  were  gone  too,  to  Albany  —  so  we  returned 
home  that  evening  — 

&  feell  very  happy  that  I  did  for  tis  to  day  very 
rainy  &  warm. 

Yesterday  very  warm  &  rainy,  so  that  the  river 
rises  fast  --  was  called  out  immediately  after  dinner 
(which  I  took  with  Mr  Lansing — )  to  see  the  break 
ing  up  of  the  river,  &  to  be  sure  it  was  a  sight  worth 
observing  -  -  The  ice  had  before  came  down  &  stopt 
within  about  a  mile  -  -  this  had  choked  the  water 
&  prepared  a  greater  force  -  'twas  now  all  in 
motion  -  -  almost  one  solid  cake  &  calm,  seeming  to 
move  with  a  beautiful  regularity,  -  -  but  twas  soon 
changed  —  the  juttg  Docks  seemed  in  vain  to  oppose 
its  passage  -  -  the  large  Logs  of  which  they  were 
composed  were  broke  with  as  much  apparent  ease 


Sat. 
IS 


i6th 


Monday 
17 

Wednesday 
19, 1783 


1 26  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

as  the  stem  of  a  brittle  pipe  —  the  foundations 
torn  up  —  &  in  their  place  piles  of  powdered  ice 
seemed  to  rise  spontaneously,  like  the  belching  fires 
from  a  Vesuvius  —  There  is  a  winding  of  the 
shoar  near  the  Academy,  which  as  it  opposed  the 
progress  of  the  Cakes,  afforded  a  scene  of  horrid 
Grandeur  almost  beyond  Imagination  —  for  by 
crowding  the  foremost  cakes  upon  the  land  &  fence 
which  they  beat  down,  the  others,  which  succeeded, 
would  increase  the  pile  till  they  appeared  to  rise  like 
clouds,  almost  perpendicular  the  height  of  30  or 
40  feet  &  as  they  broke  and  fell,  others  would  suc 
ceed  -  this  lasted  about  10  minutes  when  it  was 
succeeded  by  the  broken  ice  which  formed  a  presses 
of  grand  Confusion  —  All  the  people  of  the  City 
were  down  as  spectators  —  and  the  various  pas 
sions  which  moved  them  was  diverting  to  indifferent 
spectators  -  they  were  all  atte(ntion)  were  all 
passion  -  -  some  fearing  the  fate  of  many  buildings 
(which)  were  exposed  -  -  &  the  consequence  of  an 
inundation.  —  others  their  own  Docks  -  -  Vessels  — 
stables  &  even  Houses  for  several  were  in  much 
danger ;  others  enjoied  the  rich  scene  without  reflec 
tion  -  -  were  all  eyes  -  -  &  even  wished  it  might 
increase  -  -  some  you  would  see  agitated  at  once 
with  evry  passion  which  would  arise  on  such  an 
occasion  - 

The  stable  next  to  the  Academy  House  was 
almost  torn  to  pieces  &  a  slaughter  house  at  a  dis 
tance  thrown  down;  several  vessels  were  driven 
from  the  creeks  to  a  considerable  distance  upon  the 
high  bancks  -  -  it  was  indeed  a  scene  that  would 
excite  the  attention  of  any  one  but  had  more  of 
grand  confusion  than  regular  beauty.  — 
Thursday  The  water  rose  the  last  night  so  as  to  almost  fill 
the  cellars  of  our  house;  we  were  obliged  to  move 
the  cattle  &  even  the  hens  from  the  stable  &  evry 
thing  of  consequence  from  the  rooms  below  . 
I  went  to  the  schoolhouse  but  found  it  surrounded 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 2  7 

with  water  so  that  I  could  not  get  to  it  without  a 
Canoe,  considerable  of  our  wood  was  gone  &  the 
yard  full  of  broken  Ice  —  The  water  is  still  high 
but  the  ice  mostly  gone.  — 

The  water  rises  &  falls  alternately  &  sometime  Fryday 
in  quick  succession  as  the  channel  is  checked  more 
or  less  below  —  it  was  supposed  to  have  swelled  to 
the  height  of  13  or  14  feet  which  is  great  in  this 
Town  as  it  lies  very  low  —  the  Academy-House  still 
surrounded  with  water,  but  had  it  opened  &  kept 
school  — 

Water  subsides  -      have  employed  the  leisure  of     Sat 
3  or  4  Days  past  in  reading  to  Mra  Henry  the  His 
tory  of  Miss  Emily  Montague  written  by  a  Lady 
in  a  series  of  Letters  —  'tis  a  pretty  little  love  tail 
without  much  sentiment.  - 

Saw  accidentally  several  of  the  Albany  Gallants. 
Passed  a  cold  &  indifferent  How  do  do,  joind  cold 
hands  with  one  but  believe  it  did  not  shake  up  the 
tender  emotions  of  drowsy  friendship  on  either  side. 
We  are  quite  indifferent  -  I'm  sure  I  feel  much 
of  the  stoick  with  respect  to  them  &  their  whole 
Company  —  &  I  fear  rather  too  much  for  the  world 
in  general  —  I  am  sensible  I  have  a  awkward  stiff 
ness  &  an  embarrassment  which  makes  me  appear 
insipid  in  Company  &  yet  that  nothing  but  a  fre 
quent  practice  in  Company  will  polish  it  off.  In  my 
opinion  too  the  manners  of  them  in  general  are  but 
little  better.  -  -  in  short  I  do  not  like  them  —  they 
envy  me  my  situation  -  -  &  make  no  allowances  for 
want  of  improvement.  The  consequence  is  that 
several  invitations  some  of  which  I  refused  &  those 
that  I  accepted  I  was  not  very  well  pleased  with  — 
they  have  neglected  to  invite  me.  I  am  determined 
not  to  play  the  sycophant  —  so  frequent  no  Com 
pany  —  the  pleasure  I  loose  I  set  down  as  nothing  - 
the  advantage  in  employing  those  hours  in  reading 
is  certainly  something  -  The  only  particulars  in 
which  it  is  disagreeable  are  i  the  want  of  those 


128  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

accomplishments  which  are  only  obtained  by  fre 
quenting  Company  —  2  the  wound  it  might  give 
my  Character  in  N  England  should  it  be  told  with 
out  the  Circumstances  that  I  frequented  no  Com 
pany  — 

Sabath  A.  M.  read  in  Drillencourt  on  Death  —  it  is  a 

Fi7823  very  pi°us  &  we^  wrote  piece  on  the  subject  — 
Dined  by  invitation  at  Mr  Cuylers — Jacobs —  on 
Cod-fish  -  attended  Church  P.  M.  took  Tea  at 
Mra  Yates  P  -  -  &  spent  part  of  the  eve  at  Dr 
Young's,  heard  some  of  the  particulars  of  an  un 
happy  Expedition  against  Oswago  commanded  by 
Col.  Willet  -  -  their  dependance  was  on  surprize  — 
They  were  misted  —  went  thro'  a  wet  swamp  in  the 
night  -  -  150  of  their  men  were  frozen  in  feet  or 
hands  -  -  &  at  day  brake  when  they  were  to  attack 
the  fort  -  -  they  found  themselves  7  or  8  miles  out 
of  the  way.  of  consequence  the  expedition 

failed  - 

24th  Had  the  curiosity  to  attend  a  dutch  funeral  the 

remains  of  Col.  V.Renslear  a  man  —  rich  —  old  & 
universally  beloved  -  -  he  lived  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river  from  Town  -  -  but  the  whole  City  & 
14  or  15  miles  round  were  invited  &  also  all  Claverac 
as  they  were  his  Tenants  —  the  Ice  was  gone  so 
we  were  obliged  to  ferry  But  yet  there  were  many 
present  -  -  the  house  in  evry  room  had  as  many  as 
could  sit  with  convenience,  &  servants  at  the  Doors 
to  direct  people  according  to  their  appearance.  No 
Ladies  were  present  •  The  procession  began 
about  3  o  Clock  -  the  Corps  preceeded  upon  a 
Coach  converted  into  a  Hearse  by  taking  off  the 
Box  &c  —  the  Horses  were  white,  but  covered  with 
black  cloth  -  -  &  the  Coachman  all  in  black  -  -  next 
followed  10  persons  with  scarfs  of  white  —  the 
mourners  without  scarfs  —  &  then  the  ministers  & 
Doctors  with  —  after  these  the  people  who  attended 
walked  in  a  long  train  by  pairs  —  all  were  invited 
to  return  to  the  house  &  take  a  glass  of  wine  — 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 29 

Tables  were  sett  in  evry  room  of  a  very  large  house 
-  with  Bottles  of  wine,  glasses  —  pipes  &  Tobacco 
with  candles  ready  lighted  &  servants  with  each  a 
white  Napkin  round  their  arm  stood  ready  to  replace 
any  thing  that  was  wanted.  —  the  wine  was  pretty 
good  &  Im  sure  many  drank  of  it  very  freely :  their 
merriment  was  apparent  -  In  a  word  the  whole 
scene  had  rather  the  appearance  of  a  jovial  meeting, 
than  the  tender,  sympathetic  feelings  of  a  humane 
Condolence  -  -  there  was  no  prayer  -  -  &  the  con 
versation  was  upon  News  -  -  horsejockeying  —  & 
other  indifferent  subjects  —  Im  sure  I  did  not  hear 
a  word,  adapted  to  the  occasion  or  a  house  of 
mourning  &  in  reallity  the  appearance  is  rather  of 
joy  &  feasting  -  I  staid  near  an  hour,  &  left 
many  behind  —  crossed  in  a  boat  with  one  as  beastly 
drunk,  as  was  possible  in  so  short  a  time  —  I  saw 
an  other  nearly  as  bad,  &  I  doubt  not,  there  were 
several  in  the  same  situation  as  many  of  the  lower 
kind  go  purposely  with  that  design  .  . 

I  spent  the  Eve  &  supt  at  M"  Judge  Yates.  had 
a  very  merry  time.  Dr  Young  &  Mr  Lovett  were 
present. 

Feb  20  -  -  1783  — 

Read  Baker  on  Learning  -  -  which  is  in  short  a 
confused  mass  seeking  for  the  faults  of  evry  kind 
of  Science  without  an  attempt  to  remedy  them  -  -  it 
appeared  to  me  the  Gentleman  wrote  it  purely  from 
the  vanity  of  wishing  to  be  called  an  author. 

In  the  leasure  hours  of  2  or  3  Days,  have  been 
reading  the  History  of  Miss  Emily  Montague  writ 
ten  by  a  Lady  in  a  course  of  Letters  from  the  Actors 
The  scene  opens  in  Canada  where  Emily  happens 
to  be  with  an  Aunt  Mre  Melmoth.  thro'  the  media 
tion  of  this  Aunt  &  her  husband  —  Emily  is  courted 
by  one  Sir  George  Clayton,  afterwards  a  barronet, 
a  great  fortune  -  -  she  agrees  to  marry  him  but 
before  the  happy  day  —  she  is  blessed  with  the  sight 
of  Ed.  Rivers  —  they  are  mutually  pleased  —  they 


130 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


Tuesday 
25 


27 
Thursday 


are  in  Love  —  she  rejects  Sir  George  —  embarks 
for  England,  after  engaging  herself  to  Rivers  — 
he  follows  her  —  the  only  obstruction  to  their  happi 
ness  is  the  want  of  money  —  he  is  importuned  to 
marry  a  daughter  of  a  Col  Willmot  with  many  Thou 
sands  for  her  portion  —  he  has  the  Virtue  the  noble 
Spirit  to  refuse  it  for  his  Love  —  he  marries  his 
Emily  &  in  the  sequel  has  the  happiness  to  find  her 
the  very  daughter  of  Willmot  &  all  is  Joy  &  Trans 
port  —  Miss  Arabella  Fermor  is  another  prin 
cipal  character  she  is  an  intimate  friend  of  Emily's 

—  a  great  coquet  &  witty;    falls  in  Love,  marries 
&  lives  happy  with  a  Capt  Fitzgerald  who  is  an 
officer  in  Canada  —  intimate  with  Rivers  —  returns 
home  -  -  obtains  a  Majorey  by  the  intervention  of 
his  friends  especially  the  father  of  Bell  Capt  Fermor 
who  writes  sentimental  Letters  from  &  concerning 
Canada  to  the  Earl  of  —      —     Madam  Des  Roches 
is  a  rich  french  Widow  is  much  in  Love  with  Col. 
Rivers     All  these  were  in  Canada  — 

The  scene  closes  in  England  -  John  Temple 
is  a  libertine  of  great  fortune  —  becomes  steady  & 
marries  Lucy  Rivers  sister  of  the  Cols  the  Lives 
of  all  seem  to  run  on  in  a  round  of  pleasure  &  happi 
ness  -  upon  the  whole  the  Novel  may  be  said  to 
exhibit  a  pretty  little  lovetail,  but  void  of  much 
sentiment 

—  Affecting  story  of  Miss  Williams  — 

A  Ball  is  forming  for  Thursday  -  -  Cards  sent 
to  day  —  I  had  none  —  Mr  Henry  in  the  same  house 
had  —  I  hardly  know  whether  to  put  it  down 
among  my  chagrins  or  not  —  were  it  in  some  other 
places  it  certainly  would  —  or  even  here  if  the  com 
pany  were  such  as  I  wished  or  liked  —  It  is  appar 
ently  a  designed  neglect  —  but  believe  my  Philoso 
phy  will  easily  support  it,  from  such  Characters.  — 

They  had  their  Ball  &  I  to  be  sure  had  no  Card 

—  but  find  that  few  of  them  were  very  happy  in  it 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 3 1 

&  had  a  Bill  of  305.     The  neglect  is  all  that  troubles 
me 

took  Tea  with  M™  Judge  Yates  -  -  she  invited  me       28 
to  sup  next  night,     which  I  did  on  a  fine  Turkey      jarc 
with  a  clever  Company  &  jolly  evening     .     .  Sat. 

Heard  Dom.  Westerlo  in  A  M  upon  the  Thorns     Sab2 
&  Briars  in  the  Vineyard  —  (i.  e.)   siners  in  the 
Church  —  P  M  Dined  at  Home  with  a  Capt  Jones 
from  near  Boston,     heard  Mr  Proudfoot  preach  an 
insipid  Sermon  — 

Had  an  invitation  to  dance,  but  mustered  spirit     Monday 
enough  to  refuse  -  -  for  the  party  was  made  up  of        3 
those  by  whom  I  was  neglected  before  —  &  Im 
determined  never  to  show  to  them  any  of  that  fawn 
ing  behavior  whh  I  am  persuaded  would  introduce 
me  into  Company  -  -  &  as  tis  disagreeable  to  visit 
Ladies  at  one  time  &  cant  at  another  —  I  seldom 
trouble  them;    am  therefore  almost  constantly  at 
Home  &  doubt  not  but  'twill  be  nearly  as  much  to 
my  advantage  &  pleasure  — 

Took  Tea  at  Mra  J.  Yates  —  walked  round  the     Sat.  8 
great  square  without  entering  any  House. 

Was  both  parts  of  the  Day  to  hear  a  New  Eng-  Sab  9 
land  preacher  -  -  was  not  very  fond  of  him  —  went 
to  take  Tea  at  Dr  Youngs.  Miss  Enice  was  at 
Mr  DToisters,  went  there  with  the  Dr  &  took  Tea 
-  made  a  little  visit  &  returned  to  his  House  to  the 
agreeable  entertainment  of  a  Philosophic  Conver 
sation. 

The  Dr  is  a  man  of  very  humly  visage,  of  rather 
mean  appearance  -  -  but  very  affable  —  long  accus 
tomed  to  study,  &  close  reasoning  &  is  endowed  with 
as  excellent  faculties  for  it  as  any  man  of  my 
acquaintance  —  takes  nothing  for  granted  because 
evry  one  says  tis  so  -  -  in  short  he  dives  to  the 
bottom  of  evry  thing  -  -  has  reasoned  himself  into 
the  confirmation  of  deisticle  tenets  —  He  extends 
his  researches  to  the  field  of  Nature  &  the  physical 


1 32  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

Causes  of  her  Productions  —  he  showed  me  sev 
eral  disquisitions  of  his  upon  several  philosophic 
points  —  Electricity  is  his  Hobby  Horse;  he 
applies  it  to  evry  thing  —  makes  it  the  operating 
Cause  of  Life,  Vegitation,  Heat,  attraction  &  its 
contrary;  &  in  short  evry  motion,  even  the  animal 
Spirits,  are  influence  by  it.  — 

This  indeed  is  the  Data  upon  which  he  tells  me 
he  has  founded  the  science  of  his  Profession  -  He 
is  new  in  almost  evry  thing ;  has  wrote  considerable 

-  &  I  think  it  appears  very  reasonable  —  He 
laments  that  he  has  not  time  to  digest  his  Ideas,  to 
form  them  into  a  system  —  &  to  make  the  necessary 
experiments  -  I  must  think  if  he  had,  his  new 
system  would  appear  much  to  his  advantage  - 

All  kind  of  Attraction  even  Magnetism  is  the 
effect  of  repulsion  —  there  is  but  one  kind  of  heat 
or  fire  in  Nature  &  that  is  Electric  in  motion  more 
or  less  rapid.  —  All  bodies  even  Electricity  when 
destitute  of  Motion  are  by  nature  cold  -  -  &  they 
naturally  condense  when  this  fluid  becomes  dormant. 
-  -  &  the  promotion  of  this  dormant  situation  of 
Elec.  is  the  opperation  of  Cold  in  the  production 
of  Ice.  - 

A  pen  and  ink  figure  comes  here 
illustrating 

Attraction     by     Repulsion 


Monday 
M.  10  1783 


Tuesd. 


Went  to  Mr  Grahams  chamber  &  took  a  glass  of 
bitters  at  noon,  agreeable  to  invitation  -  there 
were  several  young  Gentlemen  in,  upon  the  busi 
ness  of  forming  a  dance  as  I  supposed  -  -  my  invi 
tation  there  I  knew  to  be  in  consequence  of  my 
asking  the  like  favour  of  him,  as  he  passed  my 
chamber  the  day  before  -  -  &  the  consequence  of 
both  was,  that  I  received  a  Card  the  next  morning, 
inviting  me  to  attend  a  Ball  on  Thursday  —  Vini 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 33 

sacra  fames,  quid  non  mortalia  pectora  f acere  cogis 

-  Per  hoc,  mihi  manifesti  apparent,  omnia  quae 
necessaria  sunt,  ut  conciones  eorum  frequentarem 
—     I  was  some  time  in  suspence  whether,  after 
several  neglects  —  I  should  accept  or  refuse  the 
invitation  —    my  friends  advised  me  to  go  —  their 
Balls  are  conducted  by  managers,  who  invite  who 
they  please   in  general  —  once   or   twice   I   was 
unacquainted  with  the  Managers  &  another  I  knew 
had  a  spite  against  me  —  &  on  these  accounts  could 
not  be  a  designed  neglect  —    These  expressed  a 
strong  desire  to  have  me  there  &  said  it  would  be 
agreeable  to  the  Company  -        these  added  to  a 
desire  to  see  the  ceremonies  &  manners  of  the  Com 
pany  induced  me  to  accept  it  —    I  went  —     found 

the  circle  smaller  than  I  expected,  but  agreeable  —     Thurs. 
in  general  the  Gentlemen  had  provided  partners  for       I3 
the  Eve  as  is  usual  -  -  there  were  several  however 
that  had  not  &  I  among  the  rest  —  so  I  was  intro 
duced  to  a  Miss  Nancy  DePoister  &  obtained  her 
for  my  partner  seniorissima,  et  visu  inurban- 

issima  omnium  puellarum,  vel  feminarum  ejusce 
splendidae  frequentiae,  tamen15  an  agreeable  per 
son  &  a  lively  dancer  &  one  whose  experience  had 
made  some  progress  in  the  road  towards  perfection 

-  she  danced  well  &  I  made  but  few  mistakes. 
There  was  a  sleigh  provided  for  the  use  of  the  Com 
pany,  each  took  this  and  went  for  his  partner ;  they 
were  introduced  with  little  Ceremony,   except  by 
the  Managers  to  those  Gentlemen  who  were  not 
acquainted  with  them  -  -  no  dancing  till  they  all 
came  in  -       a  Lottery  was  then  made  &  the  Ladies 
drew  for  their  number  in  the  Dance  —    the  Ball 
was  opned  with  a  Minuet  &  a  Country-Dance  imme 
diately  called     they  succeeded  each  other  till  sup 
per,   which   was    a   good   one   but   plain;     a    few 

15  In  English :    the  oldest,  and  apparently  the  most  inelegant  of  all 
the  girls  or  women  of  this  splendid  assembly  but  nevertheless. 


134 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


Monday 

17 
March 

1783 


Thursday 
March  26. 


Cotelons  were  then  danced,  with  one  or  two  reels 
&  the  whole  closed  with  a  sett  of  Country  dances  - 
Broke  up  about  3  o  Clock  &  each  retired  with  his 
Partner  -  next  day  took  Tea  with  mine,  found 
her  much  pleased,  &  very  sociable,  spent  the  Eve 
with  her  at  Dr  Youngs.  — 

Yesterday  attended  the  funeral  of  a  Mr  Van- 
Teoyck.  drank  no  wine ;  but  took  Tea  in  its  room 
at  P  W  Yates,  after  spending  the  afternoon  in 
attempting  to  scan  the  character  of  a  Capt  Jones, 
&  I  think  him  an  ignorant,  self  conceited,  unprin 
cipled  man,  -  -  one  that  is  neither  an  agreeable  or 
useful  acquaintance.  -  Dined  this  day  at  Peter 
Yates.  'tis  Sfc  Patric's  which  is  celebrated  by  a 
number  of  Drunken  soldiers  &  low  people,  an 
unhappy  reflection  that  ye  effects  of  a  religious 
inthusiasm  should  be  the  cause  of  such  scenes  of 
Debauchery  &  excess  in  wickedness.  -  Spent  the 
Eve  with  good  old  Alderman  Hun  upon  evry  topic 
of  Conversation  that  I  can  think  of,  a  great  deal 
of  plain  good  nature  &  affection  is  manifest.  - 

Heard  the  glorious  news  of  a  general  Peace 
among  the  belligerent  powers  of  Europe  &  America 
twas  brought  by  express  into  Albany.  the 
People,  by  the  Cryer  were  desired  to  meet  at  the 
City  Hall  immediately  -  -  the  Letters  were  read  & 
3  Cheers  universally  given  -  -  other  demonstrations 
of  Joy  were  suspended  till  official  accounts  whould 
come  to  Hand  -  No  place  on  the  Continent,  which 
is  so  far  from  the  enemy,  is  so  immediately  affected 
as  this  -  -  shut  out  from  any  seaport  -  -  trade,  their 
dependance,  entirely  stagnated,  &  the  most  affluent 
families  reduced  to  poverty.  -  It  does  one  good 
to  see  the  general  Joy,  which  sparkles  in  the  Eyes  - 
enlivens  the  Countenance  —  animates  the  feelings 
of  all  -  -  especially  the  unhappy  who  could  say,  nos 
patriam  fugimus.  Took  Tea  yesterday  at  Cornus 
Cuylers  -  -  &  spent  part  of  the  Eve  at  Mr  De- 
poisters.  — 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  135 

Was  over  at  Greenbush  to  see  several  horse  races.     Sat 
spent  the  Eve  with  a  large  &  agreeable  Circle  at     2g 
T.  V.  Grahams  Esq.    play'd  whist  &  drank  mull'd 
cyder  —    next  day  took  Tea  at  Gillilands,  Esq  .  .  . 

Was  invited  to  spend  the  Eve  with  a  sociable  Monday 
Circle,  to  celebrate  the  Peace  &  Independence  of  March3i 
America  —  we  met  at  Kinears,  was  agreeably 
entertained  'till  after  Supper  —  when  we  were 
called  to  sit  round  the  Table  &  drink.  A  President 
was  immediately  proposed  &  Mr  A.  Lansing  seated 
in  the  Chair.  he  required  absolute  powers.  I 
opposed  it  &  had  two  to  second  me  —  for  I  knew  the 
consequence  of  such  authority  &  I  was  determined 
not  to  disgrace  myself  by  Liquor  which  I  had  so 
often  disapproved  in  others  —  the  Vote  went 
against  me,  &  the  event  soon  proved  my  fears  to  be 
true,  if  any  refused  to  drink  what  he  was  ordered, 
a  funnel  was  introduced  &  some  of  the  Company 
ordered  to  oblige  him  to  it,  nor  might  any  leave 
the  room  without  Leave  —  I  was  careful  not  to 
offend  against  order,  so  that  some  were  merry 
before  I  had  drank  much  —  I  was  determined  to 
drink  as  much  as  I  could  well  bear  without  opposi 
tion;  then  to  place  my  foot  immovable.  —  I  had 
drank  several  Beakers  and  was  determined  to 
oppose  the  next,  but  was  prevented  by  one  before 
me  who  was  ordered  to  drink  2  large  beakers  of 
Grog  after  the  Egg  Punch  we  had  been  drinking 
he  took  one  &  refused  the  other,  the  President 
ordered  compulsory  measures,  the  Company  was 
divided  &  the  setting  ended  in  a  happy  Tumult.  — 
several  Ciceronian  harangues  were  made,  by  the 
lively  spirit  of  what  we  had  drank,  I  was  with 
the  minor  party  in  opposition  —  I  plead  that  the 
design  of  a  sociable  meeting  was  the  happiness  of 
the  Circle,  which  could  not  be  increased  by  such 
scenes  of  debauchery  —  &  the  occasion  of  this  meet 
ing  was  to  celebrate  the  freedom  &  Independence 
of  the  United  States  —  that  there  was  therefore  an 


1 36  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

inconsistency  in  introducing  the  idea  of  absolute 
Power  -  -  &  much  to  that  effect.  —  I  came  home 
without  being  tipsy  &  fell  in  company  with  Miss 
Gitty  Lansing  -  -  saw  her  home  oscula  junximus 
&  I  came  home. 

Wednesday  Was  visited  by  C.  Ten  Broeck  &  A.  Van  Vechten 
the  first  I  cared  not  much  about  -  -  &  the  other  I 
did  not  want  to  see  -  -  for  at  a  ball  made  in  the 
winter  in  which  he  was  manager  —  &  after  express 
ing  a  particular  affection  for  me  -  -  he  invited  one 
from  the  house  &  sent  no  Card  to  me  -  I  cared 
but  little  about  going  -  -  but  the  respect  due  to  our 
apparent  friendship,  demanded  it  -  this  he  had 
violated,  &  this  ought  in  itself  to  have  satisfaction 
&  in  its  own  way  -  -  therefore  I  did  not  wish  to 
manifest  those  professions  of  esteem  which  I  would 
to  another  -  Nothing  was  said  upon  the  subject 
—  but  he  manifested  a  desire  to  please  &  being  at 
my  own  Chamber  twas  difficult  to  treat  him  quite 
as  he  deserved  .  .  therefore  sent  for  Cards  & 
had  a  game  of  Whist  with  them  &  Mr  Henry. 
April  Took  Tea  with  Dr  Stringer  —  heard  of  the 

Monday       paper  War  in  Con  respecting  y  College  &  the  next 

day  procured  some  of  the  Papers  which  contained 
them,  found  they  were  written  with  much  plain 
ness  -  -  &  a  good  deal  of  Elegance  -  spent  part 
of  the  Eve  too  with  Mr  Lansing.  — 

8  As  I  was  sitting  in  my  School,  perceived  one  of 
the   Buttons   on   a   Boys   Coat  that  had  polished 
bright  upon  plains  unparallel  sent  forth  rays  that 
were  very  perceptible 

Quaery  -  -  how  could  they  be  seen  if  Light  does 
not  reflect  Light  Spent  the  Eve  with  a  sociable 
Circle  at  Mr  Grahams  .  . 

9  Was  moved  with  the  affecting  sight  of  5  or  6 
in  a  Company  -  -  of  the  unfortunate  sufferers  of 
Col.  Willets  expedition  against  Oswago  —  their 
feet  bound  up  -  -  some  with  the  loss  of  half  their 
foot  hobblig  about  to  take  air 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


Diary  for  April  ioth    1783    Albany 

.  .  Made  a  visit  to  Dom.  Westerlo  —  talked  on  Wednesday 
indifferent  subjects,  Powers  of  the  Mind,  feelings 
of  Humanity  &c  —  went  into  the  Garden  with  the 
Patroon  grafted  a  couple  of  scions,  took  tea  &  he 
walked  with  me  into  town  —  went  to  Phil.  V  Ranse- 
laers  -  -  spent  the  Eve;  play'd  whist  with  Miss 
Betsy  Sanders  for  a  partner,  against  John  VRanse- 
laer  &  Miss  Glen  from  Schenectady  was  not  used 
very  handsomely  by  the  Company  who  went  off  & 
left  me  with  the  old  People  — 

Was  invited  to  attend  a  Ball:    excused  myself     Fryday 
from  attending  -       Was  at  meeting  in  the  fore 
noon,  took  Tea  at  home  —  walked  over  the  Hill     Sab. 
to  -         -  Mills     stop'd  at  Bloodgood's  stoop,  again 
at  Mr  P  Lansings  on  our  way  to  Mr  Varnors,  — 
where  we  spent  the  Eve  &  supt  -  -  the  next  Eve 
I  spent  at  Dr  Young's;  had  a  little  family  Dance  & 
the  day  following  took  Tea  at  Peter  Yates' 

Was  invited  to  take  tea  at  Dr  Youngs,  present 
Mra  Blanchard  &  Miss  D  Poister  Mra  Dyckman  & 
her  sister  Katy  -  -  after  Tea  walked  upon  the  Hill 
back  of  the  City  -  -  Miss  Dyckman  was  exceeding 
merry  &  kept  up  the  spirits  of  the  Company  -  -  went 
to  the  Mead  House  &  spent  a  part  of  the  Eve  in 
Dancing  &c  -  Had  a  number  of  Gentlemen  to 
dine  with  us  --  &  at  Tea  the  family  of  Mr  P.  Lans 
ing  -  -  for  tis  the  Custom,  where  the  woman  of  the 
house  visit,  for  the  whole  family  to  join  - 

The  Revd  Mr  Catlin,  visited  our  family,  he  tarried 
all  night  -  -  I  formed  some  acquaintance  with  him 
-  &  do  not  think  him  a  man  of  the  greatest  Learn 
ing,  or  gifts  as  a  preacher  -  he  was  on  his  way 
to  Schenectada  to  visit  the  Oneida  tribe  of  Indians, 
with  wm  he  was  for  a  long  time  before  the  war,  as 
Missionary  -  Mr  Gilbert  paid  me  a  Visit  —  & 
tis  the  eighth  aniversary  since  the  commencement 
of  the  War  -  we  are,  tis  true,  well  assured  of  a 
general  Peace,  but  I  have  not  the  official  confirma- 


Thursday 
18 


18 


Sat  19 

April 

1783- 


138  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

tion,  so  as  to  warrant  our  manifestations  of  Joy 
upon  this  aniversary  as  we  wished  &  expected. 
The  express  however  brought  the  desired  accounts 

Sab.  this   morning;    tis  to  be   read  to  morrow   &  the 

demonstrations  of  Joy  the  day  following  —  the 
Domine  preached  a  very  good  Sermon  adapted  both 
to  ye  occasion  &  that  of  Easter,  from  XIII  of 
Hebrews  20  &  21  — 

2ist  The  first  thing  observed  this  day  was  the  method 

of  exhibiting  the  mirth  of  this  holiday  which  is  the 
next  succeeding  Easter  or  in  dutch  called  Pause  - 
it  is  this  -  -  the  Saturday  before  evry  family  boils 
a  basket  of   Eggs,   colouring  them   in   a   curious 
maner  -  -  they  are  boiled  very  hard,  &  each  of  the 
family  takes  several  -  -  goes  among  his  intimates, 
challenging  them  to  butts;    the  Eggs  are  struck 
together  &  the  one  that  is  brok  is  given  to  the  one 
who  breaks  it.  -  -  there  is  much  merriment  in  it  - 
but  mostly  practised  among  children. 

At  9  o  Clock  the  Citizens  were  called  to  the  City- 
Hall  to  hear  the  Proclamation  of  the  Gov  concern 
ing  a  Peace  &  cessation  of  Hostilities  -  -  &  a  vast 
concourse  crowded  together  -  -  gave  three  general 
chears  &  proceeded  to  the  church  -  -  where  we  had 
a  very  good  Sermon  for  the  occasion  by  Dom.  Wes- 
terlo  from  Psalms  LXVI,  8  to  14 

Albany  Met  with  the  Citizens  about  10  o  Clock  at  the 

MUeiS8ay  ^ity  Hal1  "  "  haci  a  lon£  Procession  from  that  to 
the  Mill  -  -  preceeded  by  the  Common  Council  — 
Cannon  &  Bells  constantly  contributing  their  aid  to 
enliven  the  Passions  -  a  long  Table  was  provided, 
the  Liquor  ready  &  13  Toast  .given  with  a  Huzza 
&  13  Cannon  to  each,  this  took  up  most  of  the  fore 
noon  -  we  retired  to  Dinner  —  returned  in  the 
afternoon  -  -  repeated  our  Toasts  —  over  a  Cup  of 
Wine  —  satisfied  any  apetite  with  seeing,  instead 
of  eating  the  roasted  OX.  —  In  the  beginning  of 
the  Evening  fire  was  put  to  a  large  pile  of  pine 
wood,  prepared  for  the  purpose,  round  a  pole  with 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


139 


a  large  Barrel  of  Tar  on  the  Top  —  it  made  a  beau 
tiful  appearance  —  we  had  no  proper  fireworks  of 
Powder  —  some  were  drunk,  many  were  merry, 
&  all  were  Happy  —  The  City  was  illuminated  till 
no  Clock  &  appeared  very  beautiful  —  during 
which  the  streets  were  crowded  with  people  of  evry 
kind  &  sex  —  The  Gentlemen  of  the  City  in  gen 
eral  spent  the  night  &  following  Day  in  Debauchery 
&  Carouse  —  so  that  'twas  almost  thought  a  duty 
inseparable  from  a  true  whig  Patriot  to  make 
himself  a  convert,  to  the  depravity  of  their  Tast  & 
practice  -  I  was  strongly  solicited  to  join  in  this 
peculiar  method  of  demonstrating  Joy  -  -  but  found 
means  to  evade  it.  — 

Evening  was  at  an  elegant  Ball  made  to  crown 
our  festivals  -  -  it  consisted  of  about  30  couple,  4 
or  5  of  whh  did  not  dance,  so  that  we  stood  upon  the 
floor  13  in  a  sett  were  elegantly  dress'd,  made  a 
brilliant  appearance  &  all  were  Happy.  — 

took  Tea  at  Mr  R.  Lansings  as  my  partner  was 
out  contrary  to  my  reasonable  expectations.  on 
my  return  she  was  in  the  stoop  &  made  many 
apologies,  insisted  on  my  taking  Tea  on  the  morrow 
I  did  not  promise  -  -  nor  did  I  go  - 

D  Westerlo  gave  his  audience  a  very  good  dis 
course  from  Luke  i :  74  &  5  took  the  occasion  to 
give  a  severe  reprimand  to  those  persons  who  had 
exceeded  the  bounds  of  a  proper  rejoicing  after  Tea 
Maj  Sill  came  in  -  -  we  went  to  Dr  Smiths  &  spent 
the  remainder  of  the  Afternoon  in  singing  of  Psalm 
Tunes,  according  to  the  custom  of  New  England  — 

In  the  morning  went  to  Judge  X's  to  receive 
excuses  from  Mra  X  for  her  Son's  absence  from 
School  -  she  invited  me  to  Tea,  the  Judge  then 
in  Court  -  In  the  Afternoon  I  went  -  -  the  Judge 
standing  at  the  Door,  waited  on  me  in  —  I  imme 
diately  saw  the  confusion  of  the  family  —  &  in  their 
countenances  read  what  had  passed  —  she  pass'd 
a  cold  Compliment  —  &  we  sat  down  —  she  imme- 


Thursday 
24 


Fryday 


Sab 
27 


April 
Tuesday 


Albany 


140  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

diately  introduced  the  subject  —  that  she  was 
plagued  almost  to  death  by  her  unruly  son  &  his 
father  she  said  abused  her  —  "abuses  me,  Mr  Bald 
win,  beyond  account"  I  was  all  confusion  — 
would  have  given  anything  to  have  been  absent  — 
&  had  I  not  promised  to  take  Tea,  would  have  left 
the  house  immediately  —  The  Judge  said  not  a 
word  but  took  his  Hatt  &  retired,  while  she  went 
on  with  the  disagreeable  tale  -  I  used  evry  means 
to  divert  it  —  &  at  length  made  her  sociable  on  other 
matters  -  when  Tea  was  ready  the  judge  returned 
&  said  --  "well,  Mr  B.,  has  my  wife  black-balled  me 
sufficiently  -  her  Eyes  look'd  as  if  they'd  leave 
their  sockets  to  take  revenge.  I  told  him  we  waved 
the  Subject  as  soon  as  possible  -  -  &  by  turning  to 
other  Subjects,  prevented  her  reply  -  she  had 
indulged  the  boy  from  infancy  -  -  now  as  he  grew 
older  he  expected  the  same  Liberties  -  -  &  always 
found  a  shelter  in  her  protection  -  the  Judge 
determined  to  break  him  -  she  was  an  exceeding 
bad  tempered  woman  -  -  and  tis  common  where  the 
Passions  move  easily  one  way  they  also  do  the  other 
--it  gave  pain  to  her  tender  feelings  to  have  him 
whip'd  -  -  she  took  the  childs  part  -  -  &  blamd  the 
father  -  -  which  more  than  spoil'd  the  effect  of  the 
correction  -  -  what  unhappy  consequences  attend  a 
disagreement,  with  those  who  are  thus  closely  bound 
by  evry  endearing  Tie  — 

April  Exceeding  cold  for  the  Season  —  during  a  week 

4  past  -  -  no  rain  -  -  of  course  vegetation  comes  for 

ward  extremely  slow  -  Was  a  few  nights  since 
in  a  Circle  of  mix'd  Company ;  walk  to  the  Pasture 
—  &  sat  on  the  stoops  &c  -  -  during  the  whole  of 
which  scarce  a  subject  could  be  introduced  without 
some  of  their  disagreeable  Douts  sprauter  —  they 
knew  I  understood  none  of  it,  therefore  broke  the 
chain  of  conversation  &  of  course  it  would  be  diffi 
cult  for  me  to  sustain  my  part  of  it  —  I  had  fre 
quently  given  gentle  hints  —  I  was  determined  now 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


141 


April 
7 


Fry day 
9 


to  give  a  loud  one.  I  introduced  a  short  discourse 
with  a  friend  in  Lattin,  ended  with  visne  ambulare; 
ans.  etiam  Domine;16  with  that  we  left  them.  Ive 
not  been  into  their  company  since  —  I  am  happy  to 
hear  it  has  been  a  matter  of  some  speculation  — 
various  constructions  were  put  upon  it  -  -  some 
commending  it;  others  pretending  an  affront  — 
just  as  I  wished  &  expected  — 

Made  several  little  visits  at  Mr  Sheriff  Ten 
Broecks  &  Miss  Sally  Lansing  —  spent  ye  Evening 
sociably,  found  that  I  might  visit  ym  with  accept 
ance  - 

Yesterday  received  Letters  from  N  Haven  by  Mr 
T  B  -  -  &  this  day  I  attend  the  examination  of  the 
Academy,  under  my  Care,  we  were  honoured  by  a 
number  of  litterary  Characters  Dom.  Westerlo 
honoured  us  thro'  the  whole,  we  had  no  exhibitions 
they  are  to  be  next  week.  Took  Tea  by  Invitation 
at  Mra  Judge  Yates,  all  Honey  &  Pye  — 

Took  Tea  at  Mr  Shaws  —  walked  home  with  Miss 
Sally  Lansing  from  Ch.,  Yates  &c 

Exceeding  Busy  preparing  for  the  Exhibitions 
of  the  Evening.  Mr  Ely  &  Honeywood  honoured  us 
with  their  Company  -  the  Company  was  admitted 
into  the  City  Hall  about  6  o  Clock,  an  Oration  on 
the  return  of  Spring  opned  the  exhibitions,  the 
Tragedy  Orphan  of  China  succeeded,  this  was 
followed  by  a  humerous  Dialogue  written  by  Mr 
Lovett  &  two  Orations  upon  the  glorious  prospect 
of  an  honourable  Peace  closed  the  amusement  of 
the  Evening,  the  one  written  by  Judge  Yates  &  the 
other  by  his  honour  myself  —  we  were  honoured 
by  as  many  persons  of  the  first  families  in  Town 
as  the  Hall  could  contain  &  I  am  happy  to  find  they 
thought  themselves  agreeably  entertained,  &  gave 
our  young  Gentlemen  much  applause  —  May 

Much   fatigued  with  the   Business  of  the  last      ^ 

16  In  English:   "Do  you  feel  like  taking  a  walk?    Answer,  yes,  Sir." 


Sabbath 


Monday 


i42  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

Evening  —  &  more  perplexed  with  the  want  of  a 
horse  to  perform  my  journey  —  rode  to  the  flatts 
with  D  T  Broeck;  took  Tea  with  Mra  Schuyler  — 
&c  —  Capt.  Sill  came  to  see  if  I  went  in  the  morn 
ing  —  was  unhappy  to  give  him  no  for  answer  — 
Mr  Henry  out  of  affection  for  me,  &  seeing  my 
embarassments,  was  so  generous  as  to  offer  his  & 
insist  upon  my  taking  it,  but  refused  any  reward  & 
I  knew  'twould  greatly  disoblige  the  family  —  I 
told  him  after  thanking  him  for  the  generous  offer, 
that  I  would  ride  in  the  morning  &  if  twas  impos 
sible  to  obtain  one  would  then  take  his  -  accord 
ingly  —  Mr  Lovett  went  with  me  &  we  rode  to  almost 
evry  house  in  New  Schotland  -  -  found  it  the  most 
miserable  place  for  horses  that  ever  I  saw  -  -  even 
the  people  were  almost  as  ignorant  &  more  lifeless 
than  that  noble  animal  -  -  the  horse,  in  some  others 
-  we  saw  none  almost  night  that  were  fit  to  ride 
my  journey  -  -  at  length  we  came  across  a  stone 
horse  which  pleased  in  evry  respect  but  that  one  & 
as  necessity  knows  no  Law  I  purchased  him,  gave 
2^£  N  York  Cur  &  found  that  people  in  general 
thought  I  had  him  at  a  good  Lay  tho  3  Days  before 
half  the  price  would  have  hardly  tempted  me  to 
purchase  him. 

Thursday  Took  my  leave  of  friends  &  left  Albany  about  10 
May  J5  o  Clock  in  company  with  a  Shirtlanda  Commissary, 
talked  much  about  Dutchmen,  their  manners  &c  - 
travelled  to  Kenderhook  in  his  Company  Dined  at 
Larrabee's  TV  &  lodged  at  JVTKenstry's  Noble 
Town  - 

16  next  morning  Breakfasted  at  Great  Barrington 

T.  &  Dined  with  Burrall  at  Canaan;  saw  his  Wife 
—  caird  upon  Farrand17  —  who  was  in  the  Dumps 
indeed ;  rode  to  Goshen  that  Night,  put  my  horse  in 
Tavern  &  spent  the  Evening  &  lodged  at  Parson 
Shermans  — 

17  Daniel  Farrand  (Yale,  Class  of  1781). 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 43 

rode  to  Litchfield  &  dined  with  Esq.  Tracy18  17  of 
spent  my  time  very  agreeably  he  has  certainly  a  j^y 
most  amiable  partner19  &  is  himself  exceedingly 
improved,  &  finds  much  Business  —  here  too  I 
found  Capt  Sill  -  -  rode  in  company  with  him  to 
Watertown,  took  Tea  at  Parson  Stores20  —  & 
lodg'd  at  Maj  Smith's  our  conversation  turned 
much  upon  the  half  pay  of  Officers  -  -  he  gave  me 
some  new  Ideas  upon  the  Subject  -  next  morning 
after  Breakfast  designed  to  attend  meeting  at  N. 
Cambridge,  but  found  ourselves  lost  &  were  too  late  Sab. 

-  so  we  rode  on  to  Farmington  dined  &  went  to  l8 
meeting  --  heard  Mr  Pitkin21  condemn  evry  Armin- 
ian  &  evry  other  who  does  not  think  with  him  — 
Took  Tea  at  Mr  Lewis  &  walked  with  Sill  to  see  a 
number  of  his  acquaintance  —  spent  part  of  the 
Evening  with  Pars.  P.  Daughters  Misses  Betsy  & 
Nancy  -  -  were  very  sociable  &c  — 

Went  to  Hartford;  did  some  Business;  dined  19 
with  Hopkins  &  Wells  -  -  took  him  &  Williams  & 
cantered  to  Wethersfield ;  stopt  a  moment  at  Bucks22 
&  Mitchels;  Took  Tea  with  Williams  -  -  saw  his 
Sister  -  had  a  good  Circle  of  friends  &  spent  the 
time  sociably  had  a  game  of  Whist  in  the  Evening 
at  Mr  Wrights,  Breed's  Lodging;  was  introduced 
to  Miss  Lidia  Wright  &  Polly  Hossford  —  in  the 
latter  I  was  disappointed  the  wrong  way  -  -  the 
other  pleased  me  much  -  -  &  I  reentered  to  steal  a 
Kiss  before  I  went  to  Bed ;  got  up  early  &  went  to 
Middletown  to  Breakfast;  did  Business  with  Col. 
Floyd;  saw  the  pretty  Polly  —  she  has  fine  Eyes 

18  Uriah  Tracy  (Yale,  Class  of  1778). 

19  Mrs.  Tracy  was  a  daughter  of  Judge  James  Gould. 

20  Rev.  Andrew  Storrs  (Yale,  Class  of  1760). 

21  Rev.  Timothy  Pitkin  (Class  of  1747). 

22  Josiah  Buck  of  Wethersfield  had  married  in  1775  Hannah  Deane, 
a  sister  of  Silas  Deane,  and  first  cousin  of  Simeon  Baldwin.     N.  E. 
Hist.  &  Gen.  Register,  XV,  298. 


1 44  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

but  not  so  extrem  in  other  features ;  rode  home  that 
day  without  any  remarkable  occurrence  — 
Wednesday      remained  at  home  &  endeavoured  to  console  my 
21  honoured  father  in  his  misfortunes,  whom  I  found 

deprived  of  Sight,  &  of  course  of  almost  evry  Com 
fort  of  Life  —  the  next  day  I  went  into  Town; 
found  my  3  Sisters  together  -  -  they  &  my  other 
particular  friends  were  well,  made  a  little  Visit 
to  Miss  Sally  Rogers  found  her  very  sociable  & 
happy  -  -  delivered  some  Letters  to  friends  in  the 
lower  end  of  Town;  took  Tea  with  Phelps  at  Mr 
A.  Hunter  &  slept  with  Mr  Hough,  after  spending 
a  part  of  the  Eve  at  Mr  Troth  with  the  young  Ladies 
of  his  acquaintance. 

Norwich          Breakfasted  at  Mr  Hollerns  with  Hough;   dined 

pry^y        at  Mr  Witters23  &  returned  to  make  my  aged  father 

1783          happy,  &  was  at  home  the  next  day  &  read  some 

Sab.  25  Went  to  meeting  in  Bozra    Mr  Throop  officiated 

-  the  next  day  Monday  went  to  Mr  Lovetts ;  dined 

with   them   conversed   about   John   &   our   affairs 

P.  M.  went  to  Windham ;  saw  young  Flint  but  could 

not  oblige  him  &  myself  so  much  as  to  visit  the  circle 

of  their  fair  -  -  did  business  with  N  Wales,  Esq  & 

returned  to  Mr  Notts  after  making  a  little  Viz  & 

my  uncles  &c  -       spent  the  Eve  &  Night  with  Mr 

Nott. 

Tuesday  returned  home  &  P.  M.  made  a  visit  at  Asa 
Fitch's  -  Wednesday  was  the  day  appointed  to 
make  their  ride  to  Mohegan.  I  was  invited  to  join 
the  Row  but  had  not  much  inclination  to  make  such 
a  spectacle  as  I  was  sensible  must  be  the  case  with 
so  large  a  company  when  riding  thro'  Town  —  I 
agree'd  therefore  to  go  with  my  sister  to  Goshon 
—  we  dined  with  the  Rev.  Mr  Throop,  took  Tea  at 
Mra  Hinckleys,  &  got  back  in  season  to  attend  the 

23  Jacob  Witter,  his  brother-in-law,  who  was  now  keeping  a  tavern 
in  the  house  on  Bean  Hill,  in  which  Capt.  Ebenezer  Baldwin  had 
resided,  a  cut  of  which  is  to  be  found  opposite  page  14. 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


Sat  31st 


Norwich 
June  i,  1783 
Sabbath 


Dance  the  next  day  we  visited  O  Lathrop  &  family 
—  f  ryday  was  at  home.  — 

walked  into  Town  dined  at  my  Brothers  &  at 
tended  the  trial  of  Butler  v.  Hide  —  the  former  of 
which  was  Horswhip'd  by  the  latter  —  the  whole 
process  was  very  musical  Butler  got  6/  Damage 
&  Hide  was  fined  io/.  visited  Mr  Strong. 

Mr  Nott  preached  at  Norwich  —  I  went  to  hear  & 
liked  better  than  I  expected  —  his  Discourse  was 
directed  much  to  the  Youth  —  their  singing  was 
excellent  —  an  Anthem  closed  —  I  dined  at  Mr 
Barretts  —  took  Tea  with  Mr.  Townsend  —  vis 
ited  at  Perrits  &  attended  the  singing  school  &c  — 
slept  at  Winters  &  the  next  morning  took  my  leave 
of  them,  came  home,  bid  farewell,  &  sat  out  on  my 
Journey,  arrived  at  N  Haven  about  1 1  o'Clock  the 
next  day  Dined  with  Dr  Goodrich  -  -  received  his 
invitation  to  make  that  my  Quarters  —  P.  M. 
attended  a  meeting  of  4>  B  K.  gave  them  my  senti 
ments  fully  upon  the  subject  of  giving  charters,  as 
the  case  of  a  pe(ti)tion  from  Providence  College 
was  then  before  the  meeting  -  -  this  gave  me  a 
handsome  opportunity  to  show  my  disapprobation 
of  their  refusing  to  send  one  to  Albany  —  attended 
Prayers  in  the  Chappel  —  was  invited  into  the 
Library  -  -  sat  half  an  hour  or  so  with  the  Presi 
dent  —  went  to  Mr  Mix  &  took  Tea  -  visited  some 
friends  &  slept  with  brother  Stebbins24  -  -  break 
fasted  at  Dr  Goodrich  &  dined  with  Mr  Wales  — 
after  spending  part  of  the  forenoon  in  an  agreeable 
walk  with  Tutor  Goodrich  —  toppics  of  Conversa 
tion  were  business  in  future  .  .  I  had  perceived 
by  hints  the  Eve  before  that  a  party  of  pleasure  was 
intended  for  the  next  day  after  this,  but  out  of  a 
very  great  stretch  of  politeness  towards  me  they 
agreed  to  bring  it  on  this  afternoon.  3  o  Clock 

"Stephen  W.  Stebbins  (Yale,  Class  of  1781),  then  studying  theol 
ogy  at  Yale. 


Wednesday 
4 


146  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

was  appointed  the  time  for  meeting.      I  spent  all 
the  time  to  this  in  attentive  visits  —  joined  the 
Circle  at  Lieut.  Bears     a  sprinkling  of  rain  pre 
vented  a  going  soon.      Yet  the  time  passed  very 
merrily,  till  twas  thought  convenient  to  walk  into 
the  Quar(ter)   twas  on  a  plain  of  about  a  mile, 
most  beautiful  walking,  the  cool  clouds  made  it 
more  so  —     (Boys)  were  provided  to  take  along 
the  Baskets  &c    fires  were  made  &  Tea  kettles  on, 
when  we  got  to  the  place  which  was  at  the  end  of 
the  lane  —  terminating  with  a  very  steep  side  hill  - 
proper  for  the  lovers  leap  -  -  below  an  extensive 
meadow  &  a  beautiful  river  -  -  in  short  both  nature 
art  &  company  vied  with  each  other  to  make  the 
Individuals  happy  -      we  took  Tea  —  danced  to  the 
fluit  -   -  &  enjoyed  a  most  happy  scene  of  rural 
felicity  until  dusk  returned  &  crow(n)ed  the  whole 
with  a  pretty  Dance  at  Deacon  B's.     I  slept  at  Esqr 
Shermans;    the  fatigue  of  the  Day  prevented  me 
from  the  remaining  felicity  which  I  had  anticipated 
from  the  company  of  my  Dulcinea;    but  a  happy 
hour  of  private  sociability  the  next  morning  made 
amends    I  broke  fast  at  Esq  Shermans  bid  good  by 
to  my  friends  &  sat  out  for  Danbury;    spent  one 
Day  there  with  my  friends  with  mutual  expressions 
of  Esteem,  then  rode  to  Poughkeepsie.    Breakfasted 
with  Brayley  &  Hun  Esqre  &  arrived  at  Albany  on 
Monday  the  9th  of  June,  1783 

From  June  9  to  September  26,  1783,  no  journal  was  kept, 
or,  if  kept,  none  has  been  preserved.  There  was  less  of 
novelty  to  record.  His  position  had  become  assured  in 
Albany  society.  That  he  had  made  a  favorable  impression 
on  those  with  whom  he  had  had  dealings  there  is  certain 
from  the  invitation  which  he  received  to  deliver  an  address 
as  part  of  the  exercises  attending  the  public  celebration  of 
the  return  of  peace,  on  May  12,  1783.  It  was  no  small  com- 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 47 

pliment  to  be  asked  to  be  one  of  the  two  orators  of  the  day, 
when  the  other  was  an  eminent  lawyer  of  the  city,  Judge 
Robert  Yates. 

Mr.  Baldwin's  oration  follows : 

"No  Theme  can  be  more  animating  to  an  Orator,  or  more 
acceptable  to  his  Audience;  than  to  congratulate  his  fellow 
Countrymen,  upon  a  release  from  trouble,  &  a  completion  of 
every  virtuous  wish. 

During  an  unhappy  Period  of  near  8  years  wh  have  expe 
rienced  all  the  horrors  of  a  War,  as  important  to  us  as 
unnatural  in  itself.  -  Nothing  less  than  the  Liberties, 
Happiness,  &  future  Glory  of  the  american  World,  were  the 
lively  incentives,  which  emboldened  the  Patrons  of  our 
Cause,  to  oppose  the  aspiring  progress  of  lawless  Power,  to 
check  the  Lust  for  universal  dominion,  &  protect  the  rights 
of  injured  Innocence. 

Your  own  recollection  will  assure  you  with  what  reluctance 
we  engaged  in  Arms,  when  our  own  Danger  &  revenge  for 
our  Brethren's  blood,  obliged  us  to  action.  Yet  the  contrast 
may  perhaps  increase  the  lively  joy  of  this  occasion  to  take 
a  cursory  view  of  our  past  misfortunes  &  recapitulate  a  few 
of  Those  Events  which  soon  manifested  to  the  amazed  spec 
tators,  that  the  boasted  Heroism  of  a  veteran  Army,  could 
not  withstand  the  true  fire  of  Patriotism,  when  provoked  by 
Injuries,  &  supported  by  Innocence  &  the  Being  who  protects 
it.  Yes  be  it  known  to  the  World,  that  the  imperious  Britons, 
instead  of  conquering  the  Virtue  that  opposed  them,  were 
soon  obliged  to  retire  from  an  important  Capital  -  -  several 
garisoned  forts  were  wrested  from  their  possession,  &  to 
their  astonishment  saw  a  little  Army  of  American  Hannibals, 
passing  with  incredible  Ardor,  thro  a  Wilderness  till  then 
deemed  impenetrable.  These  Sons  of  Liberty,  they  are 
worthy  of  the  name,  even  dared  to  assault  the  strongest 
Bulwarks  of  the  northern  realm.  Come  ye  who  enjoy  the 
blessings  for  which  they  fought,  lend  a  tear  to  the  immortal 
memory  of  your  brave  Montgomery  —  The  unhappy  Events 
which  took  place  in  the  next  campaign,  must  still  be  recent 
in  your  memories  —  But  it  has  ever  been  the  peculiar  Cir- 


148  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

cumstance,  attending  the  most  gloomy  Prospects  of  this  War, 
that  they  did  eventually  turn  out  to  our  advantage  &  end  in 
the  glory  of  our  Cause.  Three  times  had  the  rapid  career 
of  victorious  Armies,  mow'd  down  their  way,  &  spread 
destruction  with  their  March  almost  to  the  Centre  of  our 
Country;  -  &  twice  has  it  been  emphatically  proved  to  the 
world,  by  the  capture  of  two  powerful  brittish  armies,  that 
Captivity  may  be  taken  Captive.  It  is,  perhaps,  becoming 
when  we  consider  the  prospects  of  a  reconciliation  with  those 
who  have  been  our  Enemies,  to  cover  with  the  veil  of 
Delicacy,  many  of  those  scenes  which  at  the  time  they  were 
exhibited,  added  to  our  distress,  &  were  shocking  to  Human 
ity  -  It  is  more  pleasing  to  reflect  on  the  final  end  of  all 
our  conflicts,  &  the  accomplishment  of  our  most  sanguine 
expectations;  tho  indeed  the  pleasure  of  this  is  increased 
by  the  dark  &  gloomy  Clouds  which  have  long  obstructed  the 
appearance  of  that  day,  which  now  begins  to  dawn  with  the 
approach  of  unequal'd  splendor.  -  Hail  thou  bright  morn 
ing  of  independent  Liberty,  thou  bles'd  reward  of  patriotic 
merit  Hail!  Welcome  to  the  realms  of  Columbia,  thou 
genius  of  Liberty,  Harbinger  of  Happiness  -  Here  fix  thy 
seat  amid  the  joyful  acclamations  of  those  who  are  worthy 
to  be  called  thy  Sons  -  -  No  Tyrant  shall  drive  thee  hence : 
but  a  perpetual  Asylum  shall  be  afforded  by  those  Patriots 
of  their  Country,  who  have  fought  &  bled  in  thy  glorious 
Cause  -  The  feelings  of  their  Souls  are  manifest  in  the 
smiles  of  evry  Countenance,  &  Humanity  will  join  us  in  the 
general  Joys;  while  with  grateful  Hearts  we  render  our 
tribute  of  thanks  to  those  who  under  the  smiles  of  a  most 
conspicuous  Providence  have  been  instrumental  in  promoting 
this  happy  Event.  —  Come  then  ye  Heroes  of  Columbia, 
with  the  inimitable  Washington  at  your  head,  receive  those 
congratulations  which  by  your  Vallour  we  are  enabled  to 
give  —  Your  Merits  are  more  than  words  can  express  or 
our  thanks  repay  —  Those  who  fell,  have  richly  deserved 
the  Tear  of  Sympathy  —  &  those  who  survive  the  highest 
Plaudits  of  a  grateful  Country  —  While  the  reflection  itself 
which  enlivens  the  patriot  who  is  worthy  of  such  Applause 
will  be  a  source  of  Happiness  more  refined  than  those  which 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  149 

arise  from  the  "Blaze  of  Glory,  the  Arm  of  Power,  or  the 
golden  Lure  of  Wealth"  —  Much  too  is  due  to  those  gener 
ous  Allies,  who  have  mingled  the  blood  of  Heroes  with  the 
blood  of  Patriots,  in  supporting  a  Cause  where  Innocence 
was  distressed,  Humanity  suffered,  &  the  rights  of  nature 
were  abused.  Such  was  the  glorious  Cause,  not  the  prospect 
of  extensive  Claims  for  which  they  fought  with  us,  &  with 
us  have  conquered.  Universal  Nature  must  therefore 
approve  the  great  Event,  &  welcome  in  the  prospects  of  a 
heaven-born  Peace.  — 

Commerce  the  source  of  national  Ease  &  Wealth,  already 
calls  forth  the  mouldering  Hulls,  commands  the  unaccustom'd 
Sails  to  catch  the  lively  Breeze  &  waft  the  Produce  of  our 
western  world,  to  regions  of  Distress. 

And  Agriculture  rising  to  an  Art,  shall  soon  subdue  the 
wilds  of  untrod  regions,  to  the  use  of  Man  —  While  a  rapid 
Population  forms  extensive  States,  with  many  a  rising  City, 
where  now,  nought  are  seen  but  the  Haunts  of  fiercest 
Beasts  or  the  footsteps  of  a  barbarous  race.  Here  inde 
pendent  Liberty  shall  erect  the  standard  of  Happiness.  Sci 
ence  shall  feel  the  general  flame  &  fire  the  Genii  of  our  riping 
Youth,  to  those  important  Discoveries,  &  noble  Improve 
ments  which  will  add  their  names  to  the  fam'd  Catalogue 
of  those  who  do  honour  to  the  American  World,  which  gave 
them  birth.  Human  Nature  shall  then  grow  more  refined, 
&  the  Dignity  of  Man  of  course  exalted  —  Virtue  shall  land 
her  guiding  Hand  -  Congenial  Friendship  glow  in  evry 
Breast,  &  fair  Religion,  crown  the  beatific  scene  —  Then  we 
may  indeed  adopt  the  words  of  a  late  Prophetic  Poet  — 

'No  din  of  Arms  the  peaceful  Patriot  hears, 
'No  parting  sigh  the  tender  matron  fears, 
'No  field  of  Fame  invites  the  youth  to  rove, 
'Nor  Virgins  know  a  harsher  sound  than  Love. 
'Then  Love  shall  rule,  &  Innocence  adore 
'Discord  shall  cease,  &  Tyrants  be  no  more; 
'Till  yon  bright  orb,  and  those  celestial  spheres, 
'In  radiant  Circles,  mark  a  thousand  Years; 
'Till  the  grand  fiat  burst  the  etherial  frames, 


1 50  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

Worlds  crush  on  worlds,  &  nature  sink  in  flames ! 
The  Church  elect,  from  smouldering  ruins,  rise, 
'And  sail  triumphant,  thro'  the  yielding  skies, 
'Hail'd  by  the  Bridegroom!  to  the  father  given, 
The  Joy  of  Angels,  &  the  Queen  of  Heav'n !' 

His  remarks,  referred  to  in  his  Journal  as  made  on  June 
4,  1783,  before  the  Alpha  chapter  of  the  3>  B  K  Society  at 
Yale,  were  occasioned  by  its  cold  reception,  in  January,  1783, 
of  his  request  for  a  charter  for  the  members  of  the  fraternity 
then  living  at  Albany,  under  which  to  form  the  Alpha  chapter 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  reply  was  a  polite  refusal, 
on  the  ground  that  "we  may  be  in  danger  of  multiplying 
Charters  and  forming  different  Branches,  with  greater  haste, 
than  would  be  conducive  to  the  general  good  of  our  important 
Institution/' 

He  kept  up,  during  this  year,  quite  a  frequent  correspond 
ence  with  several  of  his  college  friends.  Among  these  were 
Tutor  Elizur  Goodrich  of  the  Class  of  1779,  and  his  class 
mates  Enoch  Perkins  and  James  Kent. 

It  was  much  the  custom  of  young  people  in  those  days, 
who  were  on  terms  of  intimacy,  to  call  each  other  in  their 
letters  by  fanciful  names.  That  of  Mr.  Goodrich  was 
Gustavus:  that  of  Mr.  Baldwin,  Adolphus. 

On  November  27,  1782,  Gustavus  writes  to  Adolphus  of 
the  second  wife  of  President  Stiles,25  to  whom  he  had  been 
recently  married : 

"Mrs.  Stiles  is  a  fine  woman  —  diligent  in  business  prudent 
in  Ecconomy  —  sensible  -  -  polite  in  Company  —  Dignity  & 
gracefulness  unite  in  her  Conduct  &  person  — 

"Yalensia,"  he  proceeds,  "is  much  as  usual  the  old  build 
ing  levelled  &  an  elegant  Hall  nearly  completed.  The  Stu- 

25  Mrs.  Mary  Checkley  of  Providence. 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 5 1 

dents  are  250  in  number  &  in  general  very  clever  young 
fellows." 

After  speaking  of  several  of  the  young  women  of  New 
Haven,  Mr.  Goodrich  adds  of  Miss  Rebecca  Sherman,  to 
whom  he  evidently  considers  that  his  correspondent  was  then 
engaged  to  be  married : 

"I  wish  I  could  at  the  same  time  give  you  all  the  pleasure 
you  would  enjoy  in  hearing  of  Miss  S  welfare  -  -  She  is 
as  you  have  heard  at  Boston  -  -  I  need  not  say  she  is  a  fine 
Girl  -  -  you  already  believe  it.  May  guardian  angels  protect 
&  return  her  to  her  friends  --  &  you  to  her  &  each  of  you  to 
each  other." 

Mr.  Goodrich  next  writes  on  December  28,  1782,  of  the 
events  of  the  College  world: 

"Since  my  last  which  lies  before  me  nothing  very  material 
has  transpired  in  our  western  hemisphere.  True,  there  is 
a  small  misunderstanding  between  some  of  our  great  folks  — 
but  you  dont  want  to  be  troubled  with  Etiquettes  or  points  of 
Ceremony  -  -  The  Cause  is  shortly  this  -  -  the  Misses  Stiles's 
think  it  their  ryht  to  go  out  of  the  Pew  before  Mra  Meigs, 
who  you  (know)  is  a  married  Lady  —  Her  Husband  jealous 
as  every  man  ought  to  be  of  his  &  his  Ladys  honr  has  resented 
the  matter  with  spirit  &  unable  to  obtain  redress  his  Lady 
has  withdrawn  her  attendance  from  Chappel.  You  know 
the  estimation  the  Ladies  are  in  in  town  --  the  influence  their 
Conduct  respecting  pews  has  had  on  their  Characters  &  con 
sequently  what  effect  it  will  have  on  their  general  reputation. » 
Your  particular  acquaintances  are  in  good  health  &  we  take 
time  by  the  foretop  &  spend  it  pretty  merrily." 

A  hint  is  added  that  he  may  expect  a  call  to  become  a  tutor 
at  Yale. 

Mr.  Perkins  writes  him  thus  on  November  23,  1782,  from 
Newport,  where  he  was  teaching  school  and  reading  law : 


152  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

"All  my  Friends  affairs  are  interesting  to  me.  By  our 
letters  we  may  reciprocally  introduce  each  other  to  an 
acquaintance  with  Albany  &  Newport. 

Last  evening  I  spent  with  Major  Lyman.  You  know  he 
has  married  at  Newport.  His  wife  is  an  agreable,  sensible, 
&  accomplished  woman.  She  was  in  the  straw  —  I  did  not 
see  her.  The  Major  is  your  Friend,  among  other  things, 
conversed  upon  various  topics  of  literature.  My  acquaint 
ance  with  him  is  short.  But  for  every  Yalensian  I  feel  a 
nearness.  He  seemed  like  an  old  acquaintance.  It  is  in 
contemplation  to  institute  a  Society  for  literary  improvement 
in  this  town.  The  Major  is  warmly  engaged  in  it.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  your  Friend.  Meetings  for  the  can 
vassing  of  literary  topics  &  for  acquiring  a  facility  of  com 
municating  our  ideas  are  to  the  highest  degree  useful.  I 
promise  myself  much  pleasure  &  improvement  from  this 

institution 

Do  you  enquire,  comment  se  porte  Monsieur  Channing,  notre 
amis  ?  He  has  entered  upon  his  important  profession.  He 
has  preached  at  Newport.  His  text  was,  "Behold  I  bring 
you  glad  tidings"  &c.  I  thought  the  subject  exceedingly 
well  adapted  to  the  occasion.  His  profession  is  to  preach 
the  gospel.  He  begins  with  proclaiming  glad  tidings.  His 
discourse  was  well  written.  His  manner  of  speaking  was 
solemn  &  adapted  to  the  subject.  He  was  heard  with  listen 
ing  attention.  He  was  admired.  He  is  now  at  Attle- 
borough,  were  he  present,  he  would  not  forget  My  Friend. 

You  write  to  me  upon  matrimony.  Ha,  ha  My  Friend, 
I  believe  your  thoughts  run  much  upon  that  subject.  New 
port  is  not  at  so  great  a  distance  that  news  cannot  reach  it. 
The  agreable  little  Miss  R.  S.  I  expect  you  will  kiss  those 
two  letters.  My  letter  will  afford  you  pleasure  in  that  place, 
if  in  no  other.  Should  you  be  joined  with  her  in  the  nearest 
of  connections,  may  your  days  flow  on  in  a  perpetual  circle 
of  joys." 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  letter  from  Mr.  Perkins 
dated  at  the  same  place  on  August  2,  1783: 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  153 

"May  we  ever  keep  up  a  correspondence.  And  the  inter 
position  of  hills  &  mountains,  Seas  &  Oceans  never  interrupt 
it.  Do  you  inquire  of  the  particulars  of  your  Friend's  Situa 
tion?  Judging  you  by  my  own  feelings,  you  do.  I  take  a 
small  and  select  number  of  scholars.  But  my  principal  atten 
tion  is  directed  to  study.  In  about  a  month  I  shall  dismiss 
my  school  entirely,  &  totis  viribus  bend  my  whole  attention 
to  study  until  the  latter  end  of  November.  Until  that  time 
your  letters  will  find  me  here.  Do  not  omit  writing.  The 
Court  will  sit  at  Newport  in  November,  when  I  have  some 
expectation  of  being  admitted  to  the  Attorney's  Oath.  Then 
my  present  plan  is  to  return  to  Connecticut,  make  myself 
acquainted  (with)  the  practice  of  Law  there,  &  make  that 
State  the  place  of  my  future  residence.  This  is  sub  rosa. 
As  we  frequently  meet  with  disappointments  in  our  pro 
jected  plans,  in  general  it  is  not  the  part  of  prudence  to  make 
them  known  to  the  world,  &  make  others  the  witnesses  of 
our  abortive  schemes.  But  to  a  friend  one  loves  to  com 
municate  all." 

"I  was  going  on  in  the  moralizing  strain,  when  I  was 
interrupted  by  Dr  Waterhouse.  This  Gentleman  formerly 
studied  Physick  in  this  town,  from  hence  went  to  London, 
studied  there  with  the  famous  Dr  Fothergil  of  that  city  — 
From  thence  went  to  Leyden  in  Holland,  prosecuted  his 
studies  &  afterwards  took  the  degree  of  Medicinae  Doctor 
at  that  University.  He  was  appointed  Professor  of  Physic 
at  the  University  of  Cambridege,  &  is  soon  to  be  installed. 
He  has  been  shewing  me  part  of  his  Oration  which  is  to  be 
delivered  on  the  occasion.  I  was  much  pleased  with  it.  The 
Canterbridgians  mean  to  make  a  figure  in  the  Literary  world. 
Their  President  is  a  man  of  abilities,  &  they  have  lately  added 
two  new  professorships,  one  of  Physic  &  one  of  Surgery. 

I  have  just  received  your  obliging  letter  of  July  Ist  alias 
15th  I  was  much  pleased  with  my  Friend's  playful  imagina 
tion.  It  is  said  of  Virgil  that  he  displayed  a  most  excellent 
genius,  in  taking  such  a  barren  subject  as  that  of  his  Georgics, 
&  making  from  it  a  beautiful,  entertaining,  &  sublime  poem. 
Yet  in  derogation  of  Virgil's  fame,  be  it  spoken,  he  had  some 


154  Asa  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

real  foundation.  But  to  the  honour  of  my  Friend,  "Cedite, 
Romani  Scriptores,  cedite  Grai/  with  nothing  but  an  imagin 
ary  foundation,  he  has  raised  a  Superstructure  reaching  to 
the  stellary  system,  &  introduced  worlds  within  worlds 
revolving  in  the  most  beautiful,  grand,  &  sublime  regularity, 
order,  &  harmony." 

A  life-long  correspondence  was  begun  in  1782  between 
Simeon  Baldwin  and  James  Kent.  The  first  letter  was  from 
Mr.  Baldwin,  and  miscarried. 

The  second  was  the  following  from  Mr.  Kent: 

"Poughkeepsie  Sepr  15th  1782 
My  Dear  Friend 

By  a  kind  of  pia  Fraus  I  steal  a  few  moments  this 
morning  from  the  religious  Services  of  the  Day  to  devote 
them  to  my  Friend  -  -  Mr  Graham  is  here,  &  the  Conveyance 
is  presented  by  him  -  -  he  tells  me  you  wrote  by  Coll.  Troop, 
but  I  have  received  no  Letter  -  -  I  was  informed  he  had  had 
one  for  me,  but  had  lost  it  —  O  Caprice  how  Can  thou  torture 
&  unprovokedly  wound  the  tenderest  Feelings  of  thy  most 
faithful  Subject,  by  raising  &  then  by  sporting  with  his 
Expectations!  -  Your  attention  Sir  though  unenjoyed  I 
acknowledge  with  a  mixture  of  Gratitude  &  Esteem  -  -  &  by 
the  Commencement  of  the  Correspondence  also  on  my  part, 
you  will  see  that  I  am  as  ready  as  you  are,  to  begin  &  carry 
on  the  great  Purposes  of  Society  &  Friendship.  - 

The  Felicity  &  Refinement  of  our  Nature,  I  repeat  it, 
Mankind  derive  all  their  Happiness  &  Improvement  by  carry 
ing  into  Execution  the  Impulse  to  Connection,  &  'tis  no  less 
commendable  than  advantageous;  a  social  Disposition  &  a 
friendly  Heart  are  the  most  amiable  Accomplishments  of  the 
Mind,  &  are  equally  deserving  of  Esteem  in  whatever  Light 
they  recommend  themselves  to  our  View  -  -  But  alas !  it  is 
a  Truth,  &  my  own  Experience  witnesseth  to  the  Observa 
tion;  that  one  great  part  of  the  Infelicity  of  all  sublunary 
Communities  arises  from  this  Cause,  that  they  are  precarious 
in  their  Duration  &  subject  to  the  Convulsions  of  Time  — 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 55 

One  year  has  now  wasted  away  since  I  have  been  dismissed 
from  under  the  Patronage  of  the  Muses,  torn  from  the 
Society  of  my  collegiate  Companions  &  sent  forth  into  the 
World  -  To  indulge  a  Reflection  on  the  former  scene, 
brings  to  my  mind  the  pacific,  the  golden  Age  of  Antiquity, 
as  deliniated  by  the  Pencil  of  the  Poets;  whilst  the  latter 
bears  some  Resemblance  to  the  Iron  the  rugged  times  that 
ensued  — 

We  were  once  fellow  Companions  travelling  over  the  Fields 
of  Science,  diverted  by  the  same  Objects  &  animated  with 
the  same  Motive ;  we  have  together  whirled  away  the  inno 
cent  Morning  of  Life,  &  in  the  Arms  of  Affection  have  trod 
the  romantic  Stage  of  Youth,  have  relished  the  Charms  & 
Entertainments  of  human  Literature  &  have  ripened  into 
Men,  but  now how  shall  I  describe  my  Feel 
ings,  the  Eloquence  of  the  Pen  is  inadequate  to  the  Descrip 
tion  -  - 1  am  sure  I  feel  all  the  Enthusiasm  of  Friendship,  & 
amidst  the  Changes  &  Revolutions  of  our  Lives  this  one 
Truth  shall  be  invariable,  /  love  my  Friend  &  I  will  love  him 
unto  Death. 

Whilst  I  am  thinking  on  the  Object  of  this  Letter  such 
Swarms  of  obsolete  Ideas  are  awakened  &  sent  up  from  the 
dusty  Cabinet  of  my  Memory  where  they  have  slept  for  a 
twelvemonth,  that  I  feel  embarrassed  among  Abundance  & 
am  perplexed  for  Choice  through  the  Luxuriancy  of  Inven 
tion  -  The  Time  Sir  has  arrived  when  we  must  think 
seriously  of  coming  forth  upon  the  Stage  of  public  Life,  to 
take  a  more  conspicuous  &  a  more  influential  part  in  the  grand 
Society  of  the  human  Race  -  -  Tis  a  matter  of  perfect  Indif 
ference  what  Profession  we  are  delegated  to  fill,  or  in  what 
Sphere  we  are  appointed  to  move;  since  all  our  Labours  & 
Pursuits  ought  uniformly  to  concur  in  this  one  grand  Object, 
the  Glory  of  our  Creator  &  the  general  Interest  of  Mankind ! 
these  ought  to  be  in  all,  &  they  are  in  the  Christian  &  the 
Patriot,  the  governing  Principles  of  Life  &  the  great  effica 
cious  Springs  of  Action  —  Tis  a  Treachery  to  the  human 
Race  &  Rebellion  against  the  Law  of  Nature,  for  Man  to 
confine  his  Abilities  &  Utility  to  himself,  &  to  live  as  though 
he  was  abstracted  from  the  World.  —  our  old  Affection  for 


156  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

the  Sciences  ought  now  in  some  Measure  to  give  way  to  an 
Affection  for  our  Country  —  we  ought  to  forget  the  Indi 
vidual  Self,  in  our  regard  &  Exertions  for  the  Benefit  of 
Society,  the  Love  of  the  whole  constitutes  the  great  Patron 
of  disinterested  &  Extended  Philanthropy,  &  is  esteemed  by 
some  Philosophers  the  Foundation  of  Virtue,  nam  non  nobis 
ipsis  nati  sumus,  sed  partim  Patriae,  partim  Amicis" 
My  Friend.  I  want  to  say  every  Thing  &  I  do  not  know 
what  to  say  -  -  You  must  write  every  Opportunity,  &  I  declare 
with  the  most  devout  Sincerity  that  I  will  on  my  part  -  You 
must  inform  me  what  our  old  Classmates  are  about,  how, 
when  &  where  they  are  &  where  over  the  Surface  of  the 
Earth  -  Mr  Lovett  I  am  told  is  with  you,  though  he  is  now 
gone  to  N.  H.  -  -  when  he  returns,  you  will  be  pleased  to 
tender  to  him  my  best  Compliments,  &  desire  him  to  write, 
as  I  will  when  I  can  know  he  is  returned.  —  I  am  anxious 
to  know  how  you  are  pleased  with  your  new  Situation,  in 
that  cold  strange  Quarter  of  the  World  —  I  came  here  to 
Poughkeepsie  the  ioth  Novr  last,  &  have  except  two  Visits 
at  Home,  continued  here  ever  since  with  Mr  Benson  the  Atty- 
General  -  -  I  have  five  Companions  with  me  in  his  Office,  so 
that  it  has  become  in  some  Measure  a  College  in  mineature  - 
This  Place  lies  about  half  a  mile  from  the  Hudson  on  the 
East  side,  &  there  is  about  70  miles  between  us  -  -  but  'tis 
time  to  prepare  for  Church  —  &  &  & 


Mr  Baldwin" 


Your  affectionate  Friend 
James  Kent 


Mr.  Baldwin  preserved  the  following  draft  (undated)  of 
his  answer: 

"My  Dear  Friend 

With  pleasure  I  received  your  Letter  by  Mr 
Graham,  with  raptures  broke  the  Seal  —  &  with  delight  that 
I  can  not  describe,  read  &  reread  your  Inimitable  Epistle.  — 
Excuse  me  my  friend  it  is  the  truth  &  I  cannot  but  feel 
nonplus' d  when  I  take  it  in  hand  to  attempt  an  Answer.  Tis 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 5  7 

true  I  wrote  you  by  C.  Troop  but  the  fortunate  Letter  was  not 
exposed  to  your  critical  perusal,  ....  Am  happy  to 
find  you  fond  of  a  Correspondence  &  that  you  are  thus 
desirous  of  perfecting  the  object  of  our  Actions  -  "The 
felicity  &  refinement  of  our  Nature"  tis  worthy  of  repeating. 
—  I  think  the  superior  wisdom  of  our  great  Creator  is 
peculiarly  manifest  in  this,  that  the  beauty,  the  harmony  — 
the  dignity  &  the  felicity  of  Man  are  totally  inseparable  from 
the  necessary  bonds  of  Society  —  The  History  of  the  first 
of  Men  dictates  the  passion  to  be  natural  &  if  I  may  be 
allowed  to  say  it  -  The  God  of  Nature  has  in  himself 
afforded  us  a  most  grand  specimen  of  its  superior  beauty  & 
Sublimity  in  the  misterious  &  divine  Consequences  of  his 
triune  essence  -  I  must  say  I  never  saw  half  its  beauties 
till  I  look'd  upon  past  scenes  thro'  the  grate  which  surrounds 
me  in  this  dirty  unsociable  place  -  -  upon  my  word  I  have 
been  almost  obliged  to  pray  for  the  Philossophic  Soul  of  a 
Seneca,  Socrates,  or  Plato,  which  bore  the  soaring  possessors 
above  the  feelings  of  Adversity.  And  tho  now  I  have  the 
prospect  of  a  more  extensive  acquaintance,  yet  the  trouble, 
care  &  anxiety  which  chequer  the  paths  of  riper  years  are 
such  —  that  really  I  would  toil  with  infinite  pleasure  in  rolling 
back  the  wheals  of  Time  might  I  but  enjoy  a  return  of  those 
happy  Hours,  those  innocently  pleasing  scenes  of  youthful 
mirth  &  joys  which  we  as  schoolboys  freinds  &  Classmates, 
once  enjoyed  amid  amantes.  —  But  it  cannot  be.  A  laud 
able  Ambition  must  be  our  Guide  to  more  Noble  Scenes ;  tis 
therefore  with  pleasure  I  view  you  hasting  forward  to  the 
stage  of  Useful  actions,  in  a  path  thro'  which  if  possible  I 
would  most  willingly  accompany  you  -  -  Yet  'tis  as  you  say 
a  matter  of  perfect  indifference  what  part  we  exhibit  in  the 
Theatre  of  Action,  provided  we  proceed  from  the  impulse 
of  those  Sentiments  which  move  the  patriot,  the  Philan 
thropist,  &  the  Christian  -  -  Go  on  my  friend  in  this  Glorious 
path:  you  have  the  Love,  well  wishes  &  "untill  death  the 
friendship"  of  Your  humble  Sev* 

S  B" 

To  this  Mr.  Kent  replied  as  follows : 


1 58  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

"Poughkeepsie,  October  ioth  1782 

Mr  Baldwin  —  This  Sir  is  the  second  Letter  which  I  have 
had  the  Honor  of  transmitting  to  you  —  I  should  have 
wrote  the  Evening  Mr  Wendell  tarried  here,  but  I  was  then 
too  unwell,  being  not  as  yet  recovered  from  a  gentle  Visit 
which  I  have  had  of  the  intermitting  Fever  —  my  Letters 
are  long  &  frequent,  but  I  have  such  an  honest  Confidence  in 
the  Sincerity  of  our  Friendship,  that  I  doubt  you  will  receive 
them  with  Indulgence  &  Attention  —  Under  the  influence  of 
Affection  I  write,  &  under  that  Influence  I  presume  they  will 
be  read. 

If  I  may  judge  of  others  from  what  I  have  experienced  in 
myself,  Communications  of  this  kind  are  in  a  peculiar  Manner 
entertaining  &  welcome  at  a  time  when  we  are  thrown  into 
the  Society  of  Strangers.  As  they  are  by  a  Kind  of  Fiction 
taken  for  the  Conversation  of  the  Person  himself,  so  they 
have  an  easy  &  a  very  natural  Tendency  to  familiarize  our 
Situation  by  engrafting  it  with  our  former;  or  to  suppose 
the  one  momentarily  exchanged  for  the  other,  by  calling  up 
Scenes  which  have  been  for  some  time  entombed  from  the 
Fancy  -  If  the  Science  of  Politics  can  relate  to  the  Gov 
ernment  of  Individuals  as  well  as  of  Nations,  I  would  call 
your  Removal  to  Albany,  a  high  Stretch  of  political  Wisdom 
—  I  hope  you  will  find  it  agreeable  -  as  for  me  I  rejoice 
in  the  event  -  we  can  now  renew  the  Connection  which  once 
so  happily  submitted  between  us,  &  promote  each  others  Inter 
ests  &  advance  each  others  Glory  with  Sentiments  of  recip 
rocal  Generosity  &  Honor  I  forbear  to  urge  the 
Advantages  that  are  personal  to  yourself  —  they  are  known 
to  you,  better  than  they  are  to  me.  but  this  I  can  safely 
say,  that  it  will  furnish  Observation  —  cleanse  away  Preju 
dice  -  -  extend  Acquaintance  &  enable  you  in  some  measure 
to  adopt  the  Expressions  of  the  Philosopher  of  Athens  who 
said,  that  he  was  a  Citizen  of  the  World  — 

College  I  am  told  has  very  much  increased  since  we  left 
it  —  The  Passion  for  Learning  is  surprising  in  Connect 
icut  —  People  there  seem  to  reverence  the  Muses  with  the 
most  Exemplary  devotion  and  to  such  a  noble  Pitch  is  this 
Enthusiasm  exalted,  that  a  Father  scarce  thinks  his  Duty  dis- 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 59 

charged  to  his  little  Children  until  he  has  at  least  conferred 
an  Education  on  one  —  I  believe  many  will  however  be 
almost  induced  to  unite  with  Quinctilian  who  laments  of  the 
Prophanation  of  Learning  in  his  Day,  by  its  becoming  too 
vulgar  —  I  wish  more  of  the  literary  Spirit  of  that  State 
was  communicated  to  this,  and  I  am  happy  in  the  Reflection 
that  your  Government  of  the  Academy  at  Albany  will  have 
a  Tendency  of  that  Nature  — 

All  popular  Passions  are  capable  of  being  carried  to 
Excess,  &  neither  do  I  scruple  to  say  that  this  commendable 
Thirst  for  Knowledge  is  sometimes  attended  with  that  Mis 
fortune,  'tis  in  this  Instance,  when  there  are  more  profes 
sional  Candidates  for  Office,  than  the  respective  Offices  & 
Professions  demand.  -  the  Surplus  can  then  neither  imme 
diately  serve  the  Community  nor  themselves  -  -  all  the  high 
Departments  of  civil  Society  are  full,  and  that  forbids  the 
first;  all  manual  Occupations  are  beneath  them  &  that  for 
bids  the  second;  the  consequence  is  Idleness,  Venality,  & 
Corruption  -  -  Learning  was  much  more  common  in  the  Days 
of  Justinian  than  in  those  of  Augustus,  all  the  World  is 
inundated  with  Knowledge  in  my  Day  says  Juvenal  a  late 
Latin  Writer,  —  the  consequence  was  then  as  above,  Idle 
ness,  Venality,  &  Corruption,  and  they  brought  on  that 
northern  Storm  of  Barbarians,  which  threw  down  the  Roman 
Empire  &  swept  away  the  Throne  of  the  Caesars  — • 

But  a  daring  &  intoxicated  Fancy  hurries  me  on  whither 
I  would  not,  I  check  the  Impulse  least  you  should  think  me 
writing  a  Satire  upon  Education  -  -  so  far  from  which, 
though,  I  am,  that  I  think  a  liberal  Diffusion  of  Learning  & 
a  timely  Encouragement  to  Genius,  the  Strength  of  Society 
&  the  Ornament  of  our  Nature  —  they  add  Elasticity  to  the 
Spirit  of  a  Nation,  &  afford  a  strong  &  most  efficacious 
Incentive  to  Glory  - 

The  Study  of  the  Law  Sir  has  absorbed  my  principal 
Attention  for  this  twelvemonth  -  I  have  grown  almost  a 
stranger  to  the  Charms  &  to  the  Entertainment  of  the  acca- 
demical  Sciences  -  Law  I  must  frankly  confess  is  a  field 
which  is  uninviting  &  boundless  notwithstanding  it  leads 
forward  to  the  first  Stations  in  the  State  —  The  study  is  so 


160  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

encumbered  with  voluminous  Rubbish  &  the  Baggage  of 
Folios  that  it  requires  uncommon  Assiduity  &  Patience  to 
manage  so  unweildy  a  Work  -  -  yet  this  Adage  often  serves 
to  steel  my  Courage  &  smooth  the  rugged  Moments  of  Dis- 
pair,  "the  harder  the  Conflict,  the  more  glorious  the 
Triumph"  —  But  I  close  —  you  will  pardon  the  Length  of 
the  Letter  &  speedily  give  me  one  in  Return  —  Mr  Lovett  I 
was  told  is  returned  from  N.  H.  You  will  be  pleased  there 
fore  to  deliver  him  the  enclosed. 

I  am  with  perfect  Esteem  &  unalterable  Friendship 
Dear  Sir 

your  most  obedient  & 

very  humble  Servant 

James  Kent 
Mr  S.  Baldwin" 

The  following  is  the  first  draft  of  part  of  what  he  terms 
a  "disputation  letter,"  dated  October  20,  1782,  in  reply  to 
the  foregoing: 

"The  advantages  of  communications  of  this  kind  are  indeed 
apparent  &  innumerable  —  &  the  pleasures  I'm  sure  we 
cannot  contemplate  without  the  lively  emotions  of  Rapture 
itself.  Tis  but  a  small  streatch  of  this  &  at  the  receipt  of 
evry  Letter,  we  enjoy  all  the  agreeables  of  his  entertaining 
Company  —  &  tis  an  Observation  of  the  divine  Seneca  that 
"Friends  do  not  see  each  other  personally;  as  when  divided 
where  the  Meditation  dignifies  the  prospect."  &  Indeed  if 
there  were  neither  pleasure  nor  other  advantages  attending 
it,  it  would  still  be  our  duty  by  repeated  Letters  to  fan  the 
Coals  of  that  friendship  we  have  so  long  possessed  &  which 
the  stillness  of  Absence  had  almost  smothered.  —  I  rejoice 
with  you  in  this  that  our  Situation  now  enables  us  to  do  this 
with  renewed  pleasure  -  I  thank  you  for  your  good  wishes 
respecting  my  personal  advantages  —  &  I'm  sure  I  shall  be 
happy  if  we  can  by  the  best  of  our  Labours  promote  the 
laudable  Ambition  for  Literary  improvement  —  Tis  true 
what  you  hear  of  our  Alma-Mater,  she  has  a  most  prolific 
Womb  &  brings  forth  Alumni  almost  without  number  — 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 6 1 

Yet  I  cannot  be  brought  to  the  sentiments  of  Quinctilian 
which  you  seem  to  favour  —  or  the  consequence  which  you 
draw  from  it.  No  I  hope  better  things  from  the  untainted 
Virtue  of  our  infant  Republic,  nor  can  I  be  brought  to  think 
that  the  promotion  of  Literature  will  be  productive  of  Venal 
ity  or  Idleness  in  any  State  —  they  are  consequences  which 
seldom  accompany  its  Infancy  They  are  in  short  ever  pre- 
ceeded  by  the  Pomp  of  Luxury  itself  —  which  at  a  proper 
stage  of  Society  I  think  a  virtue.  —  My  ideal  may  be 
chimerical  but  I  must  think  the  prospect  Glorious  -  -  to  see 
the  Emulous  Youth  of  an  infant  republic  push  forward  with 
such  rapid  career  toward  the  perfection  of  human  arts  & 
human  science.  What  111  consequences  could  possibly  arise 
to  Community  if  evry  Individual  were  to  receive  the  happy 
foundation  for  fut —  Improvement  which  is  generally 
received  by  the  industrious  Allumni  of  our  Colleges  —  The 
celebrated  Lawgiver  of  Sparta  practiced  with  the  most 
Glorious  success  upon  a  plan  nearly  Similar  &  so  far  were 
the  consequences  you  mention  from  taking  place  y*  they  never 
entered  till  this  mode  of  Education  was  entirely  neglected  — 
&  why  mental  improvement  should  militate  with  manual 
labour  I  cant  see  from  the  Nature  of  the  thing,  I'm  sure  the 
latter  is  perfected  entirely  from  the  former  —  &  tis  seldom 
or  never  that  those  who  are  entirely  ignorant  of  that  were 
ever  very  eminent  for  this  —  Let  this  then  once  take  effect 
that  even  the  yeoman,  &  mechanick  should  be  initiated  in 
the  sweets  of  science,  at  least  in  a  degree  equal  to  our  Col. 
Education,  might  we  not  occasionally  hope  for  many  a  Riten- 
house  among  our  Mechanick  Genii  &  an  American  Cincin- 
natus  upon  every  farm?  —  the  Physical  springs  of  Causes 
&  Effects  tht  now  surprize  the  wondering  Eye  —  would 
soon  be  freed  from  the  surrounding  Veils  by  the  joint 
endeavours  of  All  -  While  the  solitary  Hours  of  necessary 
Confinement  —  or  the  Sociall  Circle  of  the  long  winters  Eve 
would  much  promote  the  philosophical  search."  .... 
"The  Nature  &  design  of  republican  Governments  is  not 
the  aggrandizement  of  any  Individuals,  but  the  happiness 
of  the  Society  there  united.  There  must  therefore  be  as  little 
subordination  as  the  nature  of  Government  will  admit.  — 


1 62  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

Education  may  therefore  be  admitted  without  any  dangerous 
consequences,  &  in  short  as  the  only  support  of  this  form  of 
Gov1  —  for  the  Souls  of  Individuals  thus  expanded  are  from 
the  noblest  principles  attatched  to  the  Interest  of  the  State  - 
feel  themselves  infinitely  above  the  bribes  of  the  rich  -  -  & 
are  Emulous  for  the  attainment  of  office  by  their  superior 
merits  in  knowledge,  Virtue  &  the  Love  of  Mankind;  (they 
have  a  reverence  for  those  in  Office  from  principle)  I'm 
sensible  my  friend  -  -  that  my  warmth  for  the  promotion  of 
science  is  not  yet  extinguished  -  -  my  situation  leads  me  to 
defend  it  -  -  but  I'm  sensible  my  zeal  in  the  cause  has  carried 
me  far  beyond  my  intention  when  I  began  to  write.  -  which 
was  to  have  drawn  a  parrallel  between  this  State  &  Con\ 
upon  the  happiness  of  Individuals,  which  is  promoted  by  the 
difference  of  Manners  &  Education.  In  this  State  you  have 
a  greater  subordination  &  greater  distance  between  the 
Orders  of  the  people  -  -  &  considering  the  cause  tis  founded 
on  Justice  -  -  for  the  body  of  the  people  are  extremely  Igno 
rant,  while  a  few  Individuals,  by  the  blessing  of  an  early 
Education,  have  acquired  wealth  &  importance  both  from 
the  Necesities  &  Ignorance  of  those  beneath  them.  -  They 
are  indeed  eminent  &  great  in  their  Profession  but  not  in 
general  Science  •  thus  the  scattered  starrs  shine  like 
glorious  Luminaries  enhanced  by  the  contrast  of  surrounding 
Darkness  -  -  While  with  us  the  glow  of  science  o'erspreads 
the  heavenly  constellation  with  a  general  fulgor.  The 
glorious  brightness  of  the  Individuals  who  compose  this 
illumined  Milkey-way  are  lost  in  the  superior  splendor  of  the 
whole." 

This  called  out  the  following  answer,  dated  January  18, 
1783,  and  containing  a  summary  of  the  writer's  positions 
on  the  subject  in  hand : 

"Poughkeepsie  Jany.  i8tb  1783 
Dear  Baldwin 

I  have  the  Pleasure  of  acknowledging  at  this 
late  Date  your  two  Letters  of  October  last.  Your  indulgent 
Compliments  &  polite  Observations  upon  the  Offerings  of 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  163 

your  Correspondent,  are  flattering  from  an  involuntary  Emo 
tion  which  no  philosophical  Reflection  can  withstand.  I 
feel  Obligations  resulting  from  your  Esteem,  &  shall 
endeavour  always  in  my  turn  to  pay  you  an  uniform  & 
a  deserved  Respect  - 

I  have  had  a  long  Visit  into  Connecticut  &  did  not  receive 
either  of  your  Letters  till  my  Return  the  2oth  of  last  Month, 
this  no  doubt  will  operate  as  an  acceptable  Excuse  for  my 
not  returning  the  Civility  before  —  A  concise  Narrative  of 
my  Excursion  is  this  -  When  I  left  Poughkeepsie  the 
middle  of  last  October  I  had  nearly  recovered  my  Health 
from  an  Attack  of  the  intermitting  Fever  -  My  journey 
home  threw  me  into  its  Arms  again,  &  I  was  for  four  Weeks 
confined  to  my  Father's  house  -  At  the  Expiration  of  that 
Term  I  might  truly  be  said  to  be  deprived  of  Flesh,  Strength 
&  the  Lumen  purpureum  fuventae  -  our  faithful  &  most 
excellent  Friend  ISAACS  paid  me  two  or  three  Visits  during 
my  Relapse  which  I  afterwards  most  dutifully  returned  — 
After  I  had  tolerably  recovered  We  rode  together  over  to 
Fairfield  to  pay  the  usual  Tribute  of  Friendship  to  Sturges 
&  Messra  Noyes's  the  former  of  which  honored  me  after 
wards  with  the  same  attention  —  and  thus  did  Isaacs  & 
myself  pertly  at  Fairfield  at  Compoo  &  at  Norwalk  walk  in 
the  Arms  of  Affection,  &  behold  three  or  four  Weeks  slide 
round  in  Vanity  &  Pleasure  Isaacs  told  me  he  had  received 
a  fine  Letter  from  you,  in  which  you  acknowledged  the 
Receipt  of  two  of  mine  -  I  know  he  would  have  answered 
you  by  me  had  he  been  apprized  of  my  returning  when  I  did, 
for  my  Return  was  suddenly  planned  &  as  suddenly  put  in 
Execution  -  If  he  has  not  as  yet  wrote,  doubt  not  his 
Fidelity,  for  of  this  be  assured  and  I  religiously  avoid  Excess, 
he  spoke  of  you  with  the  warmest  Attachment  &  Esteem  — 

In  perusing  your  Letters  (which  I  do  with  singular 
Pleasure  &  Admiration)  I  find  in  the  last  some  Sentiments 
of  mine  forcibly  attacked  &  totally  defeated  —  how  I  par 
ticularly  expressed  myself  I  do  not  recollect  for  I  never 
trouble  myself  with  Copies  of  my  own  Letters  -  But  what 
ever  might  have  been  the  general  or  prima  Facie  Appearance 
of  my  Principles,  this  Sir  at  least  was  never  my  design  to 


1 64  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

draw  you  into  a  scientifical  Controversy  with  me  —  Though 
Polemicks  may  perhaps  be  considered  as  my  professional 
Science,  yet  Prudence  would  prevent  me  from  entering  the 
Field  when  an  Attempt  is  Rashness,  &  Exertions  serve  only 
to  humiliate  my  Respect.  I  am  candid  but  not  sycophantic 
when  I  say,  You  completely  triumph  by  the  Arguments  you 
have  adduced,  -  -  for  to  be  sure  I  must  have  been  a  Lunar 
Utopian,  or  you  must  have  pushed  my  Position  to  an  unwar 
rantable  Length;  when  I  advanced  (as  it  appears  I  have 
done)  that  the  Progress  of  Education  is  repugnant  to  the 
Accuracy  of  Government  &  the  Interest  of  the  People.  - 
a  Sentiment  so  palpably  erroneous,  so  contradictory  to  His 
tory  &  the  unalterable  Relations  of  human  Nature,  that  I 
am  sure  I  never  meant  to  convey  so  unworthy  an  Idea  -  As 
a  Circumstance  of  Speculation  I  have  often  been  of  Opinions, 
&  that  Opinion  you  may  call  (if  you  please)  a  Creature 
painted  by  the  whimsical  Pencil  of  Fancy,  for  it  is  this,  that 
the  Encouragement  of  Learning  ought  to  have  a  relative 
Reference  to  the  Advancement  of  Agriculture,  Population, 
Policy  &  Commerce,  &  I  may  add  extent  of  Dominion.  This 
Sentiment  as  it  thus  stands  I  can  see  no  manner  of  Objection 
to,  This  is  the  one  I  at  least  meant  to  convey  in  a  former  Let 
ter  &  this  (through  an  unintended  Construction)  you  have  so 
warmly  assaulted  -  -  By  Learning  I  here  mean  not  that  which 
administers  so  much  to  our  Wants  &  Conveniences,  as  to  the 
Luxury,  not  of  the  task  only  but  of  the  five  Senses,  & 
the  classical  Erudition  of  Yale  College  is  principally  of  the 
latter  Sort,  as  might  easily  be  exemplified  for  of  what  use 
is  Opticks,  Astronomy  or  most  of  the  other  Branches  of 
natural  Philosophy  for  the  Procurement  of  Food,  Rayment 
&  Habitation,  or  will  a  laborious  travel  of  two  years  thro' 
the  Greek  Testament  or  Horace  contribute  to  the  com(pleter) 
Organization  of  our  Constitution  -  Unless,  therefore  (a 
State)  has  advanced  to  a  considerable  Degree  of  Maturity, 
it  cannot  nor  ought  not  maintain  many  idle  votaries  of  aerial 
speculations,  curious  indeed  in  themselves,  but  contribute 
very  little  to  give  Energy  to  Trade,  Patronage  to  Agriculture 
or  Regulation  to  the  Policy  of  the  State  —  Whether  there 
fore  Connecticut  is  as  yet  so  far  advanced  as  to  have  a 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  165 

Residium  of  Wealth  sufficient  to  maintain  one  third  of  Yale 
College  in  Amusement?  (for  two  thirds  of  that  College  are 
as  many  as  the  three  learned  Professions  there  in  Policy 
require)  is  what  I  heretofore  doubted  &  do  still  — 

To  demonstrate  how  easily  Positions  may  be  put  out  of 
Countenance  when  we  give  them  TOO  LITERAL  a  Construction 
I  have  subjoined  to  the  inclosed  scrap  in  a  friendly  manner 
four  sentences  of  yours  &  my  Remarks  against  them  —  My 
Dear  Friend  I  expect  a  faithful  Continuance  of  your  Cor 
respondence  -  I  could  wish  to  know  whether  Mr  Lovett  is 
at  Albany  -  I  wrote  to  him  in  Confidence  to  Friendship  — 
but  received  no  Answer  — 

Yours  most  sincerely 

J.  Kent 

concise  Commentaries  upon 
four  Positions  — 

Mr  Baldwin's  Ist  Expression  -  "I  hope  better  things  from 
the  UNTAINTED  Virtue  of  our  INFANT  Republic" 

I  pray  God  to  forgive  the  Wickedness  &  Antipatriotism  of 
the  times,  &  deliver  the  United  States  from  that  Deluge  of 
Luxury,  Scepticism  and  Licentiousness  which  pours  in  from 
every  Quarter.  -  -  Connecticut  is  140  years  of  Age  &  there 
fore  is  at  least  a  Youth  with  a  considerable  Beard  - 
Mr  B  -  -  2d  Expression  -  -  "IDLENESS  never  accompanies  the 
Infancy  of  any  State" 

But  D.  Robertson  says,  that  Nations  in  their  Infancy  never 
labour,  they  lead  a  lazy  pastoral  Life  &  their  only  Pro 
fession  is  that  of  Arms  —  Hume  also  says  that  the  English 
Nation  is  now  five  times  more  industrious  than  they  were  in 
ancient  times,  i.  e.,  in  their  Infancy 

Mr  B  -  3d  Expression  -  -  "What  is  there  in  the  nature  of 
things  that  will  cause  MENTAL  IMPROVEMENT  to  MILITATE 
against  MANUAL  LABOUR?"  — 

I  answer,  a  white,  tender  Hand,  &  an  untanned  Complec- 
tion  -  -  I  know  this  has  operated  with  thousands  &  Expe- 
rientia  docet  -  -  also  no  Man  can  work  while  he  studies; 
hence  Study  militates  against  Work  —  mental  Improvement 


1 66  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

also  refines  Sensibility,  that  will  not  work;  it  will  have 
Recource  to  the  Pistols  first;  Witness  the  tragedy  of 
Wethers  field  -  -  it  elevates  Pride,  that  will  not  work,  it  will 
oppress  first  (NB.  By  Pride  I  here  mean  conscious  Dignity) 
-  it  refines  Dissimulation,  that  will  not  work,  it  will  turn 
Courtier  &  corrupt,  first  — 

Mr  B  -  4th  Expression  —  "The  celebrated  Lawgiver  of 
Sparta  practiced  with  the  most  glorious  Success  upon  a  plan 
as  NEARLY  SIMILAR  to  that  of  YALENSiA,  as  the  Circum 
stances  of  the  Ages  will  admit" 

They  bear  not  the  most  distant  Comparison  —  Lycurgus's 
System  was  directly  the  Reverse  -  WAR  was  his  sole 
Object  &  his  whole  Plan  of  Education,  for  which  purpose  he 
banished  the  Arts  &  Sciences  &  murdered  Infants  -  -  & 
altho'  the  rigid  Discipline  &  ungenerous  Patriotism  which 
he  established,  bound  the  Lacedaemonienes  so  firmly  together, 
that  they  stood  for  several  Ages  a  Phaenomenon  in  civil 
Society ;  yet  were  they  rude,  sullen,  severe  -  -  brutal  in  their 
Intercources,  ferocious  in  War  &  Savages  in  their  Man 
ners  -  J.  K  .  .  . 

These  Observations  you  may  think  the  Result  of  a  captious 
Criticism,  -  -  these  are  not  -  -  they  are  the  Offspring  of 
friendly  Pleasantry  &  good  Humour  -  -  &  authorized  I  think 
by  the  Lex  Tallionis  -  -  I  say  Law  of  Retaliation,  for  you 
must  have  been  governed  by  the  same  friendly  Intimacy  & 
Diversion,  grammatical  Accuracy,  &  Calculation;  when  you 
drew  the  following  Inference  from  what  I  asserted,  -  -  that 
I  meant  to  wage  War  with  Literature  &  the  Sciences  - 

A  draft  of  part  of  the  reply  follows : 

"To  Mr  Kent.  -  -  Jan  30  1783 

I  wish  I  could  express  the  lively  feelings,  the  emotions  of 
sympathetic  friendship,  which  the  perusal  of  evry  Letter  of 
yours  revives  -  -  &  I  assure  you  'twas  more  particularly  so 
in  your  Epistle  of  this  month  which  I  received  by  Mr  B.  n  — 
as  your  long  absence  from  P.  &  of  consequence  want  of 
opportunity  to  write  gave  me  many  uneasy  reflections,  upon 
my  too  free  remarks  on  your  former  Generous  Letter  —  I'm 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  167 

sensible  nothing  will  excuse  them  but  the  frequent  practice 
of  the  same  freedom,  when  in  "the  Arms  of  Affection  we 
walked  the  scientific  field"  Your  candour  &  our  friend 
ship  I  know  will  excuse  me  I  am  much  pleased  with  your 
generous  Criticism  upon  several  observations  of  mine  — 
Yet  I'll  take  the  liberty  to  Quaery  whether  considering  the 
common  duration  of  Empires,  a  state  tho  years  old  may  not 
with  propriety  be  said  to  be  in  its  infancy,  or  whether  Con 
necticut  might  properly  be  called  a  Republic  till  within  7 
or  8  years;  if  so  instead  of  "a  considerable  Beard."  she 
cannot  have  the  appearance  of  Down  —  Again  altho'  I 
acknowledge  her  an  Infant  republic  -  Yet  in  the  common 
acceptation  of  the  word  she  cannot  be  called  an  Infant  Nation 

-  we  are  a  part  of  one  of  the  Oldest  Nations  in  Europe.  - 
therefore  I  query  whether  the  observation  of  Dr  Robertson 
or  the  learned  Hume  has  the  most  distant  application.  - 

Your  Remarks  on  Ob.  3  would  have  but  little  weight  if 
the  observation  be  considered  upon  the  Scale  of  universality 
—  which  was  meant. 

My  4  Ex.  you  attack  with  so  much  (vigor)  &  with  so  much 
of  that  irresistable  eloquence  almost  peculiar  to  my  friend, 
that  I  cannot  pritend  to  excuse  it,  Yet  a  little  to  alleviate  the 
tender  feeling  of  conscious  conviction  -  I  beg  you  to  recon 
sider  the  last  Clause  ffas  the  Circumstances  of  those  Ages 
would  admit" 

But  Fll  beware  in  future  how  I  give  occasion  for  the  irre 
sistable  Torrent  of  eloquence,  which  flows  with  so  much  ease 
&  conviction  from  the  prolific  pen  of  my  friend  — 

I  rejoice  with  you  my  friend  upon  your  recovery  from  the 
disagreeables  of  sickness  &  I  dare  say  you  will  return  the 
Compliment  when  I  tell  you  I  have  walk'd  safely  over  the 
critical  Bridge  of  Innoculation  &  pass'd  the  horrid  Gulph 
which  it  covers.  There  is  a  figure  for  you. 

I  am  very  Happy  to  hear  from  our  common  friend  Isaacs 

-  with  whom  I  have  with  intimacy  spent  so  many  of  the 
social  Hours  -  -  sweetned  with  the  charms  of  the  most  firm 
and  gentle  Friendship  -      It  give(s)  me  pleasure  that  he  still 
spends  his  time  with    "a  round  of  Variety  &  pleasure.  - 
You  mention  about  the  Amours  of  the  little  Sturges  —  you 


i68  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

must  certainly  know  them  —  is  the  little  fellow  really  fond 
of  Miss  Keze  or  not  —  He  is  young  yet,  possibly  a  little 
absence  —  &  more  experience  in  the  curious  science  of  female 
Charms,  may  divert  his  Passion  Benne  our  intimate  Com 
panion  once  felt  a  flame  which  was  kindled  from  the  same 
Spark  —  There  certainly  must  be  something  exceedingly 
curious  in  the  formation  of  that  enchanting  Sex  when  the 
operation  is  so  surprising  -  I  assure  you  I  should  be 
exceeding  happy  in  receiving  a  dissertation,  wrote  with  your 
usual  eloquence  upon  a  Subject  which  a  man  of  your  Obser 
vation  &  Gallantry  must  have  tho'ro'ly  scaned  —  for  my 
part  I  am  a  hermit  among  a  Thousand  —  &  have  no  other  way 
to  account  for  them,  than  by  the  Physical  Causes  &  effect 
which  are  apparent  tho  the  field  of  Nature  -  In  the  first 
place  they  have  engrossed  in  a  surprizing  manner  evry  male 
Body  that  comes  within  its  sphere.  —  They  are  also  pos 
sessed  of  a  share  of  the  electric  fire  which,  while  it  assists 
in  the  Attraction,  is  sure  to  give  the  bag  to  all  Bodies  not 
equally  charged,  &  repel  them  with  amazing  velocity  - 

The  next  letter  which  has  been  preserved  is  from  Mr.  Kent, 
written  in  June,  1783: 

"My  Dear  Friend  - 

Fortune  may  prevent  me  from  seeing 

you,  but  I  presume  is  unable  to  defeat  the  Conversation  of 
the  Pen  -  I  feel  happy  to  be  favored  with  this  generous 
Indulgence  - 

Last  Monday  or  June  Qth  I  returned  to  Poughkeepsie,  the 
Day  after  you  left  it  -  But  Oh  how  cruel  my  Disappoint 
ment  !  -  Shall  I  with  Outrage  arraign  the  Stars  that  chalk 
out  my  Destination?  -  I  will  rather  hold  fast  my  Philos 
ophy  &  my  Patience  -  -  assume  the  dissembled  Resignation 
of  a  Courtier ;  for  perhaps  by  renewed  Addresses,  the  Frown 
of  Fortune  in  this  Instance  may  be  repaid  by  a  double  smile 
in  another. 

In  my  Recess  from  this  place  I  have  (as  usual)  enjoyed 
an  agreeable  Relaxation  &  Change  —  I  was  absent  above 
4  weeks  —  saw  no  collegiate  Classmate  but  Isaacs  —  with 


As  a  Schoolmaster  a+  Albany  1 69 

him  I  exchanged  2  or  3  Visits  —  He  is  my  Friend  &  I  love 
him  -  -  his  Virtues  are  many  &  you  know  them  —  he  enjoys 
the  Esteem  of  all  his  Friends  &  he  deserves  it  —  Both  of 
us  would  have  been  happy,  exquisitely  happy,  to  have  seen 
you  at  Fairfield  &  Norwalk  •  The  enclosed  Letter  I 
received  from  him  — 

I  hope  very  soon  to  be  favored  with  an  Account  of  your 
Eastern  Journey  --  what  have  you  seen  —  &  who  —  &  where 
-  &  this  under  your  agreeable  Signature  -  Whether  any 
human  Lips  have  let  fall  an  Enquiry  concerning  an  antient 
&  almost  forgotten  Acquaintance  of  theirs  by  the  name  of 
/.  Kent?  poor  neglected  man!  -  But  tho'  he  be  over 
whelmed  with  Infirmities  &  Disfigured  with  Defects,  he 
boasts  &  will  boast  it  with  a  mixture  of  Ostentation  &  Pride ; 
that  the  Sentiments  &  Attachments  of  Affection  &  Friendship, 
as  unalterable  as  his  Nature  &  as  inviolable  as  Fate,  are  to 
be  found  with  Honor  &  Sincerity  in  his  Bosom  — 

Last  Tuesday  I  was  at  the  marriage  of  my  Companion 
Mr  Bailey  &  Miss  Hoffman  -  -  his  refined  Sensibility,  his 
warm  Heart  &  his  amiable  Wife  form  a  Conjuncture  of  Cir 
cumstances  which  (to  a  human  Eye)  have  sealed  to  him  the 
Extreme  of  sublunary  Happiness  &  Pleasure  — 

There  are  Sir,  4  great  Stages  in  the  Passage  thro'  Life  — 
each  are  decisive  in  their  Operations  &  each  attended  with  a 
Revolution  -  the  four  I  allude  to  are  -  -  Entrance  into 
Life  —  into  a  Profession  —  into  Marriage  —  &  out  of  Life  — • 

In  the  short  Space  of  two  Months  has  my  Friend  Mr  Bailey 
been  carried  with  rapidity  thro'  two  —  I  tell  him  this  is 
making  very  serious  Strides  in  the  Progress  of  human  Exist 
ence  -  -  one  only  now  awaits  -  -  the  very  Idea  of  which  con 
vulses  &  sublimes  all  the  Emotions  of  the  Heart.  - 

You  tell  me  in  your's  of  last  April  that  you  have  renounced 
the  Parade  of  high  Life  &  the  Dignity  of  Office  -  I  believe 
my  Friend,  that  you,  like  myself  &  all  the  rest  of  Mankind 
who  have  any  Share  of  Sensibility  &  Reflection,  are  subject 
to  Ebbs  &  Flows  of  Spirits  &  Passion.  It  was  low  tide  I 
presume  with  the  Ocean  of  your  Ambition  when  you  made 
that  solemn  Declaration  -  I  think  was  you  to  attempt  coolly 
to  defend  it,  I  could,  tho'  with  much  inferior  Forces,  drive 


1 70  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

you  from  the  Field.  —  I  have  often  (&  upon  my  Honor  I 
speak  the  Truth)  wished  myself  born  Heir  to  the  Fortune  & 
Condition  of  Jack  my  Father's  slave  -  Oh  what  a  Patri 
mony  this!  happy  Ignorance  &  glorious  Obscurity!  But 
my  God !  when  the  Reflection  of  a  moment  gave  play  to  the 
natural  Pride  &  Dignity  of  a  rational  Soul,  enobled  by  Free 
dom  &  illuminated  by  Science;  with  Indignation  I  detested 
the  base  the  pusilanimous  Idea  &  myself  for  receiving  it  - 

You'll  recollect  the  beautiful  Sentiment  of  a  Classical 
writer  which  (if  my  Memory  serves  me)  I  quoted  in  a  former 
Letter  to  you  -  -  non  nobis  ipsis  nati  sumus,  sed  partim 
Patriae,  partim  Amicis  -  -  How  you  can  reconcile  the  Posses 
sion  of  those  Talents  which  Nature  &  Education  have  given 
you,  to  a  conduct  which  would  naturally  flow  from  such  a 
Resolution  I  am  unable  to  conceive.  -  I  view  you  as  under 
an  Obligation  actually  binding  in  Foro  Conscientiae;  as  the 
Lawyers  term  it,  to  enter  into  one  of  the  Learned  Profes 
sions  -  That  sequestered,  that  poetical  Life  which  your 
Fancy  sketched  by  the  inimitable  Elegance  of  her  Pencil, 
has  ('tis  confessed)  a  Charm  in  it  almost  too  powerful  for 
the  Resistance  of  sullen  Philosophy  &  stormy  Ambition  — 
When  I  am  in  Love  (a  Fever  which  frequently  scorches  me) 
I  am  ready  to  quit  Society  &  retire  like  you  with  a  little 
Partner  into  that  deep  Solitude  of  yours  -  -  "where  heavenly 
pensive  Contemplation  dwells"  But,  Sir,  had  we  not 

better  first  step  forward  into  the  Scenes  of  public  Life  - 
discharge  our  Duty  to  our  Friends  &  to  our  Country  like 
true  Patriots  &  benevolent  Christians  -  -  assist  in  informing 
the  Heart  by  Precept  &  in  subduing  it  by  Example  -  -  in 
guarding  our  political  Constitutions,  as  the  most  sacred 
Ramparts  of  national  Independence  &  Freedom,  -  -  &  in 
ascertaining  the  Rights  of  Individuals  by  Laws  &  an  equi 
table  Administration  of  Justice  -  -  in  being  noble  in  our 
Motives  &  diffusive  in  our  Exertions,  &  aim  at  the  Lustre, 
the  Merit  &  the  Utility  of  fixed  Stars  in  the  Firmament  of 
the  Commonwealth.  -  Then  my  Friend  in  the  Afternoon 
of  Life  when  the  Hand  of  Time  &  the  Load  of  meritorious 
Burden  shall  weigh  us  down  &  apprize  us  of  the  Season  to 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  i  7 1 

retire ;  -  -  an  applauding  Conscience  &  an  approving  country 
will  render  a  Retreat  honorable  &  make  us  happy  neighbours 
&  Companions  in  your  rural  Hermitage  or  Cot  - 

Your  best  Friend 

James  Kent 
Monday.  P.  M.  June  i6th 

Mr  Baldwin  - 

The  following  is  the  main  part  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  reply: 

"Albany     July  4  -  -  1 783  -  -  Mr  Kent  - 
My  dearest  Friend 

Our  intimacy  is  not  so  miserable  as  to  need 
a  request  -  -  yet  there  is  many  times  -  -  I  can  not  express  it 

-  a  certain  diffident  reluctance  in  performing  those  very 
things  upon  which  we  are  sensible  our  happiness  is  centered 

-  I  would,  however,  for  the  pleasure  of  writing,  have  run 
the  venture  of  pleasing  -  -  could  I  have  found '  conveyance 
before  -       as  I  suppose  Mr  Tyler  undoubtedly  gone,  I  shall 
write  no  Letters  to  N  E.  -       My  disappointment  was  great 
I  assure  you  in  not  seeing  you  at  P.  -  -  whh  was  my  only 
motive  in  traveling  40  miles  from  my  direct  rode     I  should 
undoubtedly  have  gone  to  Norwalk  had  I  been  sure  of  find 
ing  Mr  Isaacs  &  yourself  -  -  for  I'm  sure  none  could  be  more 
happy  than  myself  in  devoting  the  pure,  untainted  hour  to 
the  sacred  Shrine  of  our  friendship  - 

As  Sympathy  is  the  primum  mobile  of  this  divine  Passion 

-  for  it  arises,  is  heightened,  is  perfected  according  to  the 
different  degrees  of  union  which  coalesces  the  happy  Souls 
which  feel  the  genial  flame  -  -  I  entered  with  rapture  into 
all  those  tender  feelings  which  arose  from  an  interview  with 
our  worthy  friend  Isaacs  -       I  attended  you  in  every  scene 
of  the  kind  through  your  Journey  -  -  &  in  the  course  of  mine 
had  occasion  frequently  to  converse  with  a  peculiar  Pathos 
upon  a   friend  of  ours  by  the  name  of  Kent,   whom  we 
esteemed  by  no  means    "the  poor  neglected  Man." 

In  the  course  of  my  Absence  I  saw  many  of  our  Compan- 


1 72  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

ions  —  was  happy  in  a  variety  of  Company  —  pass'd  thro' 
many  agreeable  scenes  —  added  to  the  number  of  several  ani 
mating  parties  on  pleasure  In  which  I  roll'd  the  wheels  of 
Time  with  the  rapid  Career  of  a  young  Phaeton  —  Happy 
too  happy  should  we  be  if  amid  the  gay  &  festive  mirth  of 
youthful  amusement  we  were  not  obliged  to  tast  the  bitter 
dregs  of  alloy.  You  doubtless  remember  the  good  old  Gentle 
man,  my  father  -  -  shall  I  tell  you  he  is  doom'd  to  live  a 
wretched  Life,  while  providence  shall  continue  him  in  this 
world  of  sorrow  -  -  to  the  Catalogue  of  Misfortunes  which 
have  befallen  him  in  person  -  -  in  his  family  &  the  distress 
of  his  Country,  there  is  now  added  the  deprivation  of  Sight ; 
yes  my  friend  my  father  is  entirely  blind.  What  a  miserable 
Creature  is  Man  in  this  helpless,  unhappy  Situation?  -  I 
did  not  know  his  misfortune  was  so  great,  till  I  got  home 
I  took  him  by  the  Hand  -  -  he  knew  my  Voice  &  in  the  union 
of  two,  the  most  opposite  Emotions,  could  say  /  saw  an 
unhappy  father  -  -  while  the  trickling  tear  from  his  still 
expressive  Eyes  declared  the  lively  Joy  of  the  inner  Man  — 
excuse  me  my  friend  if  too  particular;  they  are  the  tender 
feelings  of  fillial  Affection  for  an  obliging,  unhappy  father, 
which  I  write  — 

My  Sisters  are  well  &  with  pleasure  make  their  Compli 
ments  to  their  once  little  Jimmy/' 

The  reply,  of  July  29,  contains  these  passages : 

"I  cordially  sympathize  with  you  in  the  melancholy  Con 
dition  of  your  Father  -  -  Your  Observations  I  revere  -  -  they 
bespeak  the  Torture  of  the  Filial  Sentiment,  &  are  expressive 
of  a  Heart  full  of  Devotion  to  him." 

"The  cruel  Ingratitude  or  the  virtuous  Policy  (as  some 
say)  of  America  &  especially  N.  E.  to  her  military  sons  are 
Subjects  of  Argument  &  Animadversion  in  every  Company 
&  upon  all  Occasions  —  They  have  given  Occasions  to  many 
publications  of  uncommon  Elegance  &  Merit  —  That  the 
Fate  of  all  public  Creditors  is  involved  with  that  of  the 
Army  —  &  that  the  Existence  of  political  &  national  Credit 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 73 

&  Importance  depends  upon  the  fulfilment  of  the  Promises 
of  Congress  to  the  Army,  has  been  evinced  by  noble  Argu 
ments  &  enforced  by  the  finest  Exhortations  — 

Four  criminals  were  condemned  to  Death  here  last  Week. 
This  sanguinary  Complexion  of  our  Laws  throws  Me  into 
a  serious  Train  of  Thought  —  a  general  Act  of  Oblivion  & 
Indemnity  have  usually  succeeded  Revolutions  in  Government 
—  I  could  wish  for  one  here  —  our  Tribunals  are  so 
exemplary  in  their  Decisions  that  it  argues  either  great 
Degeneracy  of  Morals  in  the  People  or  great  Defects  in  our 
criminal  System  of  Jurisprudence  —  It  seems  to  Me  to  be 
repugnant  to  that  Benignity  which  We  are  taught  resides  in 
the  Law,  that  in  the  Eye  of  it  a  Man's  Life  should  be  put  in 
the  Ballance  with  a  Dutchman's  Horse  —  one  of  the  Crim 
inals  will  be  hanged  for  a  Theft  of  that  kind  —  to  murder  is 
Death  -  -  to  steal  is  Death  —  But  is  there  not  in  these  Cases 
an  immense  Disproportion  between  the  Punishment  &  the 
Crime?  — 

If  it  be  true  that  Society  derives  the  Right  of  punishing 
solely  &  only  from  the  principle  of  self  preservation  &  that 
all  Executions  by  Law  wherever  immediate  Safety  of  the 
whole  does  not  anxiously  demand  it,  are  a  species  of  Tyranny 
&  Injustice;  then  I  think  I  can  prove  a  priori,  that  Modera 
tion  &  Mercy  are  as  often  to  be  found  in  the  obscure,  the 
untutored  Individual,  as  in  those  wise  Assemblies  which 
frame  Laws  &  superintend  the  Conduct  of  human  Society  —  " 

The  journal,  when  resumed,  proceeds  as  follows : 

Yesterday  took  an  affectionate  farewell  of  my    Albany 
School  in  the  Academy  —  gave  them  a  short  address      1783 2S 
on  the  occasion  -  -  on  our  connection,  affection,  the 
business  of  scholars  —  the  advantages  of  Educa 
tion,  some  advice,  professions  of  friendship,  good 
wishes  &  a  farewell  —  &  never  felt  my  passions 
more  tenderly  affected  in  my  Life  —  they  were  an 
agreeable  school,   easily  governed  &  mostly  in  a 
good  way  of  improvement.     I  also  wrote  a  Letter 
to  the  Corporation  who  are  now  convened  upon  the 


1 74  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

subject  of  my  pay.  &  I  momently  expecting  their 
Answer.  --  and  have  nothing  else  to  do  till  it  comes 

-  but  to  reflect  back  upon  the  time  from  whence 
the  chasm  in  my  Journal  commenced.  —    &  I  think 
there  have  but  a  few  things  taken  place  which  would 
have  afforded  me  much  entertainment,  had  I  com- 
mited  them  to  writing.  -  -  I  have  been  but  once  out 
of  Town  &  then  to  Schenectada  -  -  in  company  with 
Mr  Lovett  &  Dr  Hopkins,  spent  the  time  agreeably 

-  except  that  in  attempting  to  return  by  the  Cahoes 
we  were  lost  near  Neskeyuna  -  -  slept  at  an  old 
Dutchmans  -  -  saw  the  falls  the  next  morning,  & 
returned  by  Breakfast  -       I  was  once  too  at  Col. 
Nicoll's  &  have  had  several  rides  with  a  party  on 
pleasure  to  the  flatts.    Tis  not  the  custom  of  the  place 
to  dance  much  in  Summer,  &  except  one  or  two  little 
collections   at   the   Meadhouses   we   have   had   no 
regular  Ball  till  the  17th  of  this  month  -  -  have  seen 
but  a  few  of  my  friends  from  N  England.  -  -  Mr 
Lovett  is  gone  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  Commence 
ment  &  a  visit  to  his  relations  &  friends  -  -  I  should 
have  gone  had  I  not  so  soon  determined  to  leave 
this  place.  -        My  thoughts  have  been  much  em 
ployed  upon  the  important  Subject  of  an  Employ 
ment  for   Life  -        The   Bar,   which  I   think  my 
ambition  would  chuse,  is  embarrassed  with  so  many 
hindrances  in  this  State  that  Indeed  it  damps  my 
wishes  -      trade  I  should  like  &  indeed  have  thought 
much,  on  the  Branch  of  Business  of  the  Bookseller 
&  Stationer  -  -  which  I  think  might  answer  in  this 
City  &  would  suit  me  pretty  well  -  -  but  here  the 
want  of  a  stock  or  rich  friends  &  extensive  Con 
nections  prevent  me.  -      The  prospect  of  a  Tutorcy 
in  Y  College  I  have  -      but  hardly  think  it  a  desir 
able  object  -  -  for  several  reasons  — 

Ist     a  sallery  not  sufficient  to  maintain  me  - 

2       Loss  of  time  in  the  most  important  period  in 

Life  — 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 75 

3  Character  &  Happiness  disagreeably  depending 
on  the  whims  &  Caprice  of  the  Scholar's  fancy  — 
But  more  than  all  — 

4  a  real  Consciousness  of  my  own  inability  for  a 
task  which  ought  to  be  so  important  -  -  as  ye  pre 
paring  the  tender  Minds  of  Youth  for  the  more 
noble  scene  of  an  active  &  useful  Life  —    It  was 
however  an  object  with  me  whn  I  gave  in  my  resig 
nation  to  the  Corporation  of  this  Academy  -  -  this 
I  believe  I  may  previously  determine,  if  I  go  there 
to  enter  immediately  the  study  of  Divinity.      My 
advantages  for  it  will  be  greater  than  perhaps  I 
might  otherwise  enjoy  -        It  will  be  agreeable  to 
my  friends  --  &  I  think  if  I  know  myself,  twill  best 
suit  my  Genius  &  Abilities  -  -  which  is  perhaps  the 
thing  most  to  be  considered.      Since  the  calls  are 
not  conclusively  binding  either  way  -  -  tis  therefore 
no  matter  to  what  profession  or  calling  in  Life  we 
turn  our  attention  provided  we  always  act  in  con 
formity  to  those  sentiments  which  ever  actuate  the 
Patriot  the  Philanthropist  &  the  Christian  -         I 
expect  to  leave  this  City  in  the  course  of  a  very  few 
Days  -        shall  then  be  soon  obliged  to  enter  the 
study  &  business  of  something  with  spirit.  — 

Towards  night  I  received  a  complimentary  Let 
ter  from  the  Corporation  for  my  services  in  their 
Academy.  — 26 

26  He  had  written  to  the  city  authorities  as  follows : 

"Albany     Sept  24,  1783  — 
To  the  Mayor  Aldermen  &  Commonalty  of  the  City  of  Albany  — 

Gentlemen 

The  time  of  my  Services  under  your  patronage  is  now 
expired  -  My  business  requires  me  to  be  as  expeditious  as  possible 
in  my  return  to  Connecticut  —  I  shall  therefore  endeavour  to  leave 
this  City  next  Monday,  if  tis  possible  for  me  to  pay  my  Debts  &  settle 
my  accounts  -  I  therefore  took  the  liberty  to  give  you  this  imme 
diate  Notice  —  &  as  I  trust  this  is  the  last  Address  with  which  I  shall 


1 76  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

26  Dined  at  home  in  company  with  Mr  W.  O.  Neil 

&  Lieut  Wheaton,  were  very  happy  over  our  Bottle 
till  3  o  Clock  I  agreed  to  ride  to  the  flatts  to  see  a 
horse  race  -  rode  home  in  company  with  a  large 
Circle,  Patroon,  Popham,  Johnson  T  Broeck  &c  - 
spent  the  Evening  with  the  Miss  Lathams,  sat  alone 
with  Miss  Amelia  on  the  stoop  for  some  time;  got 

ever  be  obliged  to  trouble  you  —  you  will  permit  me  in  this  to  return 
you  my  many  thanks  for  the  particular  attention,  which  I  have  received 
from  your  honourable  Board  —  &  my  wishes  for  your  success  in  the 
most  glorious  undertaking  of  a  Legislature  —  that  is  when  they  become 
the  Patrons  of  Science. 

I  am  Gentn 

Your  most  obliged 
&  very  humble  Serv*.  — 

Sim  Baldwin 
The  Mayor  of  Albany  — " 

The  response  was  this : 

"Sir. 

Upon  receipt  of  yours  of  the  24th  current  I  called  a  common  Council 
and  reported  your  Letter  to  them,  to  which  every  attention  has  been 
paid  and  I  doubt  not  but  the  measures  taken  thereon  will  facilitate 
your  purposes. 

The  unanimous  concurrence  of  the  board  has  imposed  that  on  me 
which  your  merit  enables  me  most  chearf ully  to  execute ;  to  make  their 
most  grateful  acknowledgements  to  you,  for,  your  unremited  ardor 
to  promote  Literature,  your  regular  Attendance  at  their  Academy  and 
compliance  with  their  resolves  during  the  time  they  have  been  favored 
with  your  Services,  and  are  happy  that  your  labors  have  been  so  far 
blessed  as  to  have  exceeded  their  most  sanguine  Expectations  — 

I  am  Sir  — 

Your  most  obedient 
and  very  hum6  Serv1 

Jn°  Van  Breeckman       Mayor 
Mr  Simeon  Baldwin." 


&m£ 


V  ' 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany  1 77 

pretty  intimate  —  supt  at  P.  W  Yates  —  with  the 
Ladies 

Have  spent  almost  all  day  in  forming  a  Map  of    27 
Albany27  &  its  environs  —  towards  night  rode  in 
Company  with  Mr  Graham,  &  spent  the  Evening 
with  the  Miss  Lathams  very  sociably,  rakishly,  & 
merily  — 

At  meeting  in  the  forenoon ;  spent  the  Evening  &     Sab.  28 
supt  at  Mr  Vander-Heiden's. 

The  Day  appointed  for  my  return  to  Connecticut  Mond29 
-  caird  on  the  treasurer  &  found  not  one  farthing 
of  money  —  saw  that  he  was  most  to  blame,  since 
he  had  not  even  drawn  out  the  Accounts  of  sub 
scribers  -  -  feel  unhappy  to  be  thus  disappointed, 
after  evry  favourable  Expression  —  Dined  with 
Ten  Broeck  &  after  a  few  glasses  felt  my  cares  a 
little  removed  -  had  a  little  Dance  in  the  Evening. 

No  money ;  of  course  my  Horse  cant  go  —  went  Tuesday 
to  Peter  W.  Yates  with  a  view  to  borrow,  which 
spurd  him  up  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  Subscribers, 
for  this  Evening  &  till  I  hear  the  result  am  in  a 
disagreeable  suspense;  my  spirits  flag  —  &  I  take 
no  pleasure  in  tarrying  -  -  in  Company  —  or  in 
preparing  for  my  Journey 

Rained  all  Day  -  -  went  to  the  Domine's  and  took    Wed-st 
tea  &  bid  farewell  -  -  &  also  to  a  number  of  other 
friends  — 

Roads  so  bad  could  not  sit  out  tho'  I  had  received  Thurs- 
£8  out  of  40  -  -  from  the  Treasurer  -  towards 
noon  heard  of  the  arrival  of  Mr  Lovett  at  Doug 
lass's  ;  went  to  see  him ;  spent  the  Time  happily  — 
hearing  of  his  maneuvres  —  he  also  informed  me 
that  I  was  appointed  a  Tutor  of  Y.  C.  gave  me  a 
Letter  from  Crocker  &  another  from  Miss  Sher 
man  — 

27  A  rough  sketch  of  the  city,  found  among  his  papers,  faces  this 
page. 


1 78  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

Albany  Spent  the  afternoon  with  Mr  Lovett  &  the  Eve 

ning  in  paying  my  respects  to  all  my  friends  before 
my  departure  -  setled  account  with  Mr  Ten  Eyck, 
so  far  as  to  find  my  due  &  draw  Order. 

Fryday  This  day  after  doing  a  few  Errands  preparatory 

Oc3td  &  setling  accounts  with  Mr  Henry  &  Shop  -  -  took 

1783  my  leave  of  the  family  with  a  Salute  all  round  - 

they  expressed  a  good  deal  of  Affection  &  I'm  sure 

I  feel  it  for  them  -       we  ever  lived  in  the  greatest 

Amity  &  separated  in  ye  same  maner.      to  be  sure 

I  have  received  more  kindness  from  their  family 

than  from  any  other  except  my  own  -  -  &  gratitude 

requires  that  I  remember  them,  ever  with  a  glow 

of  Affection     .     . 

JVT  Lovett  crossed  the  river  with  me  &  accom 
panied  me  to  Mores  -  -  where  we  parted  with  the 
feelings  of  separating  friends  -  -  but  before  my 
arrival  at  Mores  -  -  my  old  ungain(ly)  Sulkey  - 
an  ugly  bitted  Horse  -  -  &  an  unskilful  driver  all 
united  to  give  me  a  complete  overset  -  -  I  jumped 
from  the  carriage  without  damage  -  -  that  fell  into 
the  mud  -  -  but  with  the  assistance  of  Mr  Lovett 
we  righted  it  soon  went  on  to  Mores  &  cleaned  it  - 
Mr  Thaw  a  very  jovial  Irishman  accompanied  us, 
made  much  merriment  &  keeps  up  the  Spirits  which 
are  apt  to  droop  on  such  occasions.  Our  next  stage 
was  for  a  few  minutes  at  Larabee's  then  passed 
Kenderhook  without  calling,  to  Hogobooms,  in  an 
out  part  of  Cloverac  28  miles  from  Albany  -  -  tho' 
night  had  first  overtaken  me  -  -  for  the  roads  were 
exceeding  muddy  by  the  long  rains  -  -  which  we 
had  before  experienced.  nothing  else  material 
hapned  - 

Saturday  Got  up  early  &  mended  my  Sulkey  whh  began  to 
4  be  weak  in  some  of  the  joints  --  went  on  good  speed 
to  Nobleton  where  we  Breakfasted  --  still  dreading 
the  horrid  Mountain  of  that  town  —  it  was  with 
difficulty  &  slowly  that  I  cross'd  it  -  -  was  obliged 
to  lead  up  most  of  it ;  -  -  But  the  good  road  of  Egre- 


As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 


179 


Sunday 


mont  —  &  between  that  &  Sheffield,  where  we  dined 
made  some  amends  -  -  rode  that  Evening  as  far  as 
Norfolk ;  put  up  with  Mr  Phelps  — :  after  calling  on 
Burral  without  going  in  —  the  next  morning  tho' 
entered  the  dreadful  road  of  the  Greenwoods  - 
stones,  rocks,  mire,  stumps  &  Logs  made  up  the 
horrid  pavement  of  the  Ways  which  were  now  & 
then  diversified  with  Hills,  Swamps  &  Vallies  — 
with  the  frightful  scarecrows  of  broken  Axeletrees, 
Wheels  &c.  .  evry  rod  seemd  full  of  danger  & 
many  places  almost  impassable  -  -  I  was  obliged  to 
walk  a  good  part  of  the  way  -  -  'till  about  1 1.  o  Clock 
we  calld  for  Breakfast  after  traveling  about  4 
Hours  for  n  miles  -  I  then  pass'd  the  four  re 
maining  Miles  --to  Smiths  by  3  o  Clock;  the  roads 
soon  altered  much  for  the  Better  &  I  rode  to  a 
certain  Mr  Woodfords  —  there  I  heard  of  a  field 
day  -  -  or  General  Training  at  Farmington  -  -  &  as 
I  thought  it  very  probable  I  might  see  several  of 
my  old  friends  at  that  collection  I  determined  to  go 
there  &  spend  the  day  -  I  was  soon  happy  in 
meeting  with  my  friend  Langdon28  &  Gridly.29  I 
dress'd  --  took  dinner  —  &  walked  to  the  field  --on 
my  way  met  with  our  old  misseretic  Hermit  Newel30 
-  he  looked  a  good  deal  weatherbeaten,  his  appear 
ance  very  farmerlike  -  There  were  many  spec 
tators  in  the  field;  the  troops  made  a  good 
appearance  &  exercised  &  maneuvred  well  for  a 
Militia  -  -  the  Troop  came  into  ye  parade  &  attacked 
in  a  mock  fight,  the  advance  of  the  foot  &  the  body 
which  was  drawn  up  into  a  collumn  to  receive  ym; 
no  accidents  hapned  among  them  -  I  saw  Mrs 
Gridley  &  was  introduced  upon  the  parade ;  was  in 
at  Mr  Lewis  on  our  way  down  &  by  Invitation  came 

8  Timothy  Langdon  (Yale,  Class  of  1781),  who  had  been  his  chum 
while  in  college. 

29  Elihu  Gridley  (Yale,  Class  of  1781). 

30  Samuel  Newell  (Yale,  Class  of  1781). 


Mond 
ay.  6 


180  As  a  Schoolmaster  at  Albany 

back  there  to  Tea;  the  Miss  Pitkins  were  present 
&  tho'  I  was  invited  to  a  Ball,  could  not  go,  by 
reason  of  a  lameness  —  had  several  little  plays  to 
pass  the  time  —  slept  with  Mr  Langdon  at  Mr 
Smiths  by  his  invitation ;  brokef ast  there  -  -  &  sat 

7  out  for  Hartford  about  8  o  Clock.      Mr  Barnum 
from  Danbury  overtook  me,  had  much  agreeable 
chitchat  about  old  affairs  — till  Diner  which  we  had 
at  Flags.     I  left  the  place  about  3  —  &  without  any 
material  accident  got  to  Mr  Whites  to  lodge  - 

8  Breakfasted  at  Mr  Clerks  the  next  morning  —  stopt 
a  moment  with  Mr  Crocker  -  -  dined  at  Mr  Lymans 
of  Lebanon  and  arived  at  Home  about  4  o' Clock  - 

9  Was  very  stormy     .     .     But  the  next  day  being 

10  good  I  went  to  Town     Saw  an  old  Cousin  Mr  Dean 

-  spent  much  of  the  fore  noon  with  him  -  -  con 
versing  on  Subjects  but  in  general  on  the  Institu- 
Norwich      tions  &  Customs  of  Williams  &  Mary  College      in 
Oct.  ii         the  afternoon  went  to  the  Landing  with  him  -  -  took 
Tea  at  Cap1  Backus  -  -  call'd  on  Mr  Russell  on  my 
return  —  &  to  close  heard  a  Sermon  preached  by  one 
Mr  Baldwin  of  Cohos 

I  remained  at  Home  doing  little  but  visit  &  the 
21  like  until  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  College,  when 

I  went  out  on  my  Journey  to  Newhaven  -  -  no  re 
markable  occurrence  hapned  in  the  course  of  my 
Journey" 


CHAPTER  V 
LIFE  AT  YALE,  AS  A  TUTOR 

The  selection  of  Tutors  had,  before  Dr.  Stiles'  adminis 
tration,  been  practically  committed  to  the  President.  He 
picked  out  the  man  he  should  prefer,  spoke  to  him  about  it 
and  desired  him  to  adapt  his  preparatory  studies  to  what 
might  afterwards  be  so  required  of  him. 

Not  trusting  President  Daggett's  judgment  of  men,  the 
Corporation  took  the  appointments  entirely  into  its  own 
hands.  This  almost  necessarily  resulted  in  its  asking  for  the 
preferences  of  the  existing  Tutors,  as  to  their  successors,  and 
following  their  counsel. 

President  Stiles  found  the  custom  established  and  did  not 
care  to  change  it.1  Elizur  Goodrich,  of  the  Class  of  1779 
(afterwards  Professor  of  Law  at  Yale),  was  one  of  the  three 
Tutors  in  1782.  The  others  were  Ebenezer  Fitch  (Yale, 
Class  of  1777,  afterwards  President  of  Williams  College), 
and  Josiah  Meigs  (Yale,  Class  of  1778,  afterwards  President 
of  the  University  of  Georgia).  Mr.  Goodrich  was  an  early 
friend  and  life-long  correspondent  of  Simeon  Baldwin.  On 
December  28,  1781,  the  latter,  then  at  Albany,  received  a 
letter  from  him  (from  which  a  quotation  was  made  in  the 
preceding  chapter)  containing  the  following  offer: 

"You  know  my  friend  I  wish  the  interest  of  College  —  thoj 
I  dont  always  expect  to  make  it  the  theatre  of  my  actions. 
Commencement  will  terminate  my  collegiate  Life  most  prob 
ably  —  as  well  as  Mes818  Fitch's  &  Meigs'  -  -  There  will  there 
fore  be  several  vacancys  in  the  tutorial  Circle.  And  tho'  it 
is  not  an  envious  situation  —  yet  it  is  a  situation  to  which 

1  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  II,  514. 


1 82  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

your  merits  will  entitle  you  &  the  suffrages  of  Corporation 
at  that  time  call  you.  Let  me  tell  you  you  will  probably  be 
called  the  first  in  your  Class  -  -  for  Tutors  are  (inter  nos) 
appointed  by  tutors  &  our  Ideas  are  collected  &  uniform  & 
I  am  requested  by  the  Gentlemen  to  desire  you  not  to  be  so 
far  engaged  in  your  present  situation  but  that  you  may  retire 
with  honor  if  consistent  with  your  inclination." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  plan  of  practically  con 
fiding  the  appointments  of  tutors — then  the  main  College 
officers — to  the  college  faculty  was  thus  early  established. 

On  April  i  Mr.  Baldwin  wrote  in  regard  to  the  offered 
tutorship  and  soon  afterwards  received  this  answer : 

"And  now  for  the  subject  I  wrote  to  you  upon  &  upon 
which  you  address  me  -  The  employment  is  temporary  - 
agreable  &  disagreable  -  -  is  not  dishonorable  -  -  and  may  be 
the  course  of  reputation  -  With  regard  to  abilities  every 
person  must  submit  himself  to  the  opinion  of  others,  &  in 
every  Office  every  persons  abilities  must  be  judged  by  those, 
who  appoint  &  introduce  him  to  office  This  is  therefore  a 
Subject  you  must  not  scrutinize  -  -  or  if  you  do  let  me  tell 
you  -  -  you  may  expel  every  apprehension  from  your  mind 

-  You  can  &  will  perform  with  honor  &  reputation  - 

On  your  part  it  must  be  determined  from  inclination  &  cir 
cumstances  --  these  are  best  known  to  yourself  -  However 
I  may  say  from  experience  --  that  my  acceptance  has  been  of 
great  service  to  me  --  and  I  cant  see,  why  it  will  not  operate 
just  so  in  your  favour  -  You  will  be  in  fields  of  Litera 

ture  —  may  study  human  nature  &  in  the  field  of  action  to 
learn  action  as  well  as  in  the  field  of  sentiment  to  learn  senti 
ment  --  among  the  Ladies  of  town  you  may  cultivate  friend 
ship  &  here  you  will  find  me  &  a  number,  who  will  ever  be 
ready  to  give  you  ourselves  &  friendship  -  Upon  the  whole 
it  will  do  must  do  -  I  think  you  have  a  vacation  this  Spring 
&  I  hope  to  see  during  that  time  in  Connecticut." 

The  salary  of  a  tutor  at  this  period  was  £80,  with  the  use 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  183 

of  a  college  room.2  The  Tutor  senior  in  office,  called  the 
Senior  Tutor,  was  paid  £5  more,  and  had  somewhat  the  func 
tions  later  given  to  the  dean  of  a  Faculty.  In  1789,  with  the 
improvement  of  the  currency,  the  pay  was  reduced  by  cutting 
off  £5  from  the  Senior  Tutor's  salary  and  £10  from  that  of 
the  others.3 

September  12,  1783,  "the  corporation  elected  Mess18  Bald 
win,  Channing,  and  Perkins  Tutors  in  the  University,  as 
there  shd  be  an  occasion."  A  vacancy  soon  occurred,  and 
Mr.  Baldwin  was  sworn  in,  on  October  23,  having  been  pre 
viously  examined  as  to  his  orthodoxy  and  "opposition  to 
Arminian  and  prelatical  corruptions."  He  was  assigned  to 
the  charge  of  the  Freshman  Class.  A  few  days  later  Mr. 
Channing  was  called  in  to  fill  another  vacancy,  and  divided 
the  charge  with  him.  The  Freshmen,  of  whom  there  were 
eighty,  recited  in  Virgil  the  first  thing  in  the  morning,  in 
the  Greek  Testament  at  n  o'clock,  and  in  Cicero  at  5.  They 
were  also  drilled  in  public  speaking.4 

From  November  14,  1784,  President  Stiles  gave  up  the 
conduct  of  morning  prayers  to  the  tutors.5 

The  first  entry  in  the  Journal  as  to  these  occurrences  is 
as  follows: 

1  came  into  Town  on  Wednesday  -  -  &  spent  the     1783 
Evening  at  Mr  Perrits  &  lodg'd  at  Doc*  Goodrich's     October22 
which  I  am  to  make  my  Quarters  -  -  the  next  morn 
ing  visited  the  President,     he  was  glad  to  see  me, 

&  requested  an  acceptance  of  the  Office  to  which  I 
was  elected  -  I  wish'd  to  know  the  Class  to  which 
I  should  officiate  -  -  he  informed  me  that  could  not 
be  determined,  till  the  return  of  Mr  Channing  -  -  & 

2  A  few  years  before,  in  1779,  it  was  £880,  in  paper  money. 

3  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  369. 

4  Ibid.,  97,  199,  114. 

5  Ibid.,  141. 


1 84  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

after  a  conference  with  the  Tutors  who  were  in 
Town  —  I  at  length  concluded  to  accept  &  was 
accordingly  inducted  at  evening  Prayers  -  the 
Class  of  Freshmen  was  for  the  present  committed 
to  my  Care  —  accordingly  I  entered  upon  the  Busi 
ness  of  my  office  the  next  morning 

24^  have  as  yet  visited  in  Town  but  very  little  —  the  last 

Evening  I  spent  with  Mr  Goodrich  at  Deacon 
Austins  &  on  a  short  visit  to  professor  Wales  who 
had  been  very  sick  but  was  now  on  the  mending 
hand  this  day  I  made  a  short  visit  to  the  family  of 
Esq  Sherman  &  but  said  nothing  particular  to  some 
body  — 

Nov  Have  as  yet  met  with  no  difficulty  in  the  course  of 

4  my  office  -  -  this  day  Mr  Channing  came  to  our 

Assistance  &  was  inducted  the  Freshman  Class 
was  of  course  divided  between  him  &  me  -  I  visit 
but  little  am  much  confined,  &  yet  not  so  much  time 
for  Study  as  I  had  imagined. 

Among  Mr.  Baldwin's  papers  were  left  three  forms  of 
prayer  which  he  had  evidently  composed,  while  a  Tutor,  to 
pronounce  at  the  College  chapel,  as  a  part  of  the  daily  service. 
One  is  marked  Peccavi,  2.  Another  is  the  following : 

"Oh  thou  whose  name  alone  is  Jehovah  -  -  &  who  art  the 
most  high  over  all  the  earth  -  -  permit  us  who  are  but  dust 
&  ashes  to  approach  into  thy  presence  &  address  ourselves 
unto  thee,  the  Lord  of  Glory  -  Thou  o  Lord  art  very  great 
thou  art  cloathed  wth  honour  &  majesty,  thou  cover est  thyself 
with  Light  as  with  a  Garment,  &  yet  as  to  us  makest  Dark 
ness  thy  Pavilion ;  for  we  cannot  order  our  speech  by  reason 
of  Darkness  -  Altho  the  Heavens  declare  thy  Glory  of 
God  &  the  firmament  sheweth  thy  handy  work  —  Whilst 
the  whole  Creation  declares  the  omnipotence  -  -  the  infinite 
wisdom  &  the  matchless  Perfections  of  the  triune  Jehovah  - 

What  is  there  o  God  in  man,  for  which  thou  art  mindful 
of  him,  or  the  son  of  man  that  thou  dost  visit  him,  or  permit 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  1 85 

him  to  come  into  thy  presence  and  in  all  things  by  prayer  & 
supplication  make  known  his  requests  unto  thee  who  art  of 
purer  Eyes  than  to  behold  iniquity.  Thou  hast  directed  us 
to  ask  &  seek,  as  children  of  a  father  —  hast  stiled  thyself 
the  hearer  of  prayer  -  -  &  therefore  unto  thee  shall  all  flesh 
come  -  Yet  o  Lord,  we  know  not  what  to  pray  for  as  we 
ought  —  (but  we  are  thine  o  father  -  -  &  it  is  in  thee  that 
we  live,  move  &  have  our  being  —  &  all  Power  both  in  heav'n 
&  Earth  is  thine)  —  let  thy  spirit,  therefore,  help  our  infirmi 
ties  &  make  intercessions  for  us  —  pour  upon  us  the  spirit 
of  Grace  &  supplication  -  -  send  forth  thy  Light  &  truth  — 
let  them  lead  &  guide  us  to  thine  holy  hill  -  -  &  do  thou  be 
graciously  pleased  to  hear  &  answer  us  thro'  the  merits  of  thy 
blessed  Son  -  for  in  ourselves  there  is  no  help,  To  us 
belongeth  shame  &  confusion  of  face,  because  we  have  sined 
against  thee  -  We  lament  the  corruption  of  our  Nature  — 
&  that  by  practice  we  are  wise  to  do  evil,  but  to  do  good  have 
no  knowledge  -  we  have  committed  sins  of  omission  &  com 
mission  —  we  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  the  Lord  our 
God  to  walk  in  his  laws  which  he  hath  set  before  us,  though 
they  are  all  holy,  just  &  good  —  Deal  not  with  us,  merciful 
God,  according  (to)  the  demerit  of  our  Sins  —  Lord  have 
mercy  upon  us  -  -  for  we  are  sensible  that  shouldest  thou  lay 
righteousness  to  the  plummet  &  Judgment  to  the  line,  thou 
mightest  justly  swear  in  thy  wrath  that  we  should  never  enter 
into  thy  rest  — 

Thou  hast  said  it  &  hast  confirmed  it  by  an  Oath  &  by  the 
richness  of  the  patience  &  forbearance  of  our  God  that  thou 
takest  no  pleasure  in  the  Death  of  the  Sinner,  but  had  rather 
they  should  turn  &  live  -  -  turn  thou  us,  o  God  of  our  Salva 
tion,  &  we  shall  be  turned  to  purpose  (May  our  stony  hearts 
be  dissolved  with  the  Tear  of  the  penitent  &  our  works  fruits 
meet  for  repentance)  O  purge  us  with  hyssop  &  we  shall 
be  clean ;  wash  us,  &  we  shall  be  whiter  than  snow ;  hide  thy 
face  from  our  Sins,  &  blot  out  as  a  cloud  our  transgressions 

-  (enter  not  into  judgment  with  (us)  o  Lord;  for  in  thy 
sight  shall  no  flesh  living  be  justified  -  -  but  do  unto  us 
according  unto  the  greatness  of  thy  mercy  &  as  thou  has 
forgiven  even  until  now  — )  :  may  we  enjoy  the  blessings 


1 86  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

of  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  imputeth  not  iniquity  -  -  &  in 
whose  spirit  there  is  no  guile  —  may  we  therefore  receive 
the  blessing  of  our  God  -  -  &  be  thus  reconciled  unto  thee  - 
that  we  may  have  thy  blessing  to  attend  us  &  thy  presence 
to  accompany  us  thro'  all  the  changing  Scenes  of  Life  -  -  be 
our  spiritual  protector,  guard  us  from  the  snares  of  Satan  & 
the  allurements  to  Vice ;  fulfil  in  us  all  the  good  pleasure  of 
thy  goodness,  &  the  work  of  faith  with  Power  —  even  that 
faith  by  which  we  may  look  above  the  things  that  are  seen 
that  are  temporal,  even  to  those  which  not  seen,  y1  are  eternal 
-  teach  us  so  to  number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our 
hearts  unto  true  wisdom  -  -  &  may  our  path  be  as  the  rising 
Light  of  the  Morning  which  shineth  more  &  more  unto  the 
perfect  Day  --  &  while  we  are  pressing  forward  to  the  mark 
for  the  prize  of  our  high  calling  -  -  may  we  never  forget  the 
practice  of  charity  philanthropy,  &  Benevolence  -  -  those 
social  virtues  which  are  the  fulfilling  of  the  Law  -  Let  thy 
good  Providence  so  order  all  events  which  concern  our  tem 
poral  existence,  as  that  they  may  be  made  to  work  for  good  to 
us  —  as  thou  hast  promised  they  shall  to  all  who  love  thee  - 
give  us,  merciful  God,  a  competency  of  the  good  things  of  this 
Life  --  &  wilt  thou  be  our  refuge  and  our  habitation,  that  no 
evil  may  ever  befall  us  —  &  give  increase  to  all  our  lawful 
employments  -  And  may  the  end  of  all  our  petitions  be  to 
draw  us  nearer  to  thee,  the  author  &  giver  of  evry  benefit  - 

Bless  the  Lord,  o  our  Soul,  &  all  that  is  within  us  bless  his 
holy  name  -  -  for  all  his  unmerited  Goodness  -  It  is  a 
good  thing  to  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  &  sing  praises  unto 
thy  name  -  -  to  shew  forth  thy  loving-kindness  in  the  morn 
ing  &  thy  faithfulness  evry  night  -  -  (for  thou  art  (the  Lord 
is)  good  &  doest  (doeth)  good  unto  all  thy  creatures  -  Our 
existance  is  of  thee,  and  the  comfortable  circumstances  of  our 
Lives  the  effect  of  thine  unbounded  Goodness  —  &  the  nobler 
part  of  our  Natures  the  work  of  a  beneficent  God  -  Glory 
be  to  thy  Name  for  that  glorious  plan  of  redemtion  for 
perishing  Man,  which  is  the  Astonishment  of  superior  intel 
ligences  -  do  not  suffer,  we  beseech  thee,  the  sinfulness  of 
men  to  frustrate  that  beneficent  Design  -  but  may  all  the 
nations  of  the  Earth  even  those,  which  sit  in  heathenish  Dark- 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  187 

ness,  be  made  to  know  the  savior  of  men,  may  thy  Gospel  be 
universally  preached,  &  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  cover  the 
earth  as  the  waters  do  the  sea. 

O  thou  fountain  of  wisdom,  bless,  we  beseech  thee,  this 
seminary  of  Literature,  this  School  of  the  Prophets  which 
thou  hast  here  set  up  -  -  replenish  it  with  evry  good  Gift 
&  evry  perfect  Gift  from  above,  from  the  father  of  Lights ; 
be  particularly  present  with  each  member  of  this  Society  - 
may  they  so  remember  their  creator  in  the  Days  of  their  youth 

-  that  the  end  of  this  Institution  &  their  creation  may  be 
answered  -  We  would  recommend  unto  thee  our  absent 
friends  &  the  families  to  which  we  respectively  belong,  with 
all  our  brethren  of  the  human  race  for  whom  we  are  bound 
to  pray;  -  -  for  them  and  us  beyond  the  scantiness  of  our 
petitions  -  -  &  prepare  us  all  to  join  that  happy  family  who 
shall  be  forever  with  the  Lord  —  We  ask  and  offer  all  in  the 
worthy  name  of  thy  blessed  Son  &  in  his  divine  words  would 
further  say 

Our  father  &c  - 

Notwithstanding  his  long  prayers,  Tutor  Baldwin  soon 
made  a  good  impression  on  the  student  body.  Among  other 
things  he  organized  a  volunteer  singing  school  in  the  sopho 
more  class,  which  was  particularly  under  his  charge.  The 
agreement  to  form  it  describes  the  project  as  one  "proposed 
by  our  honoured  Tutor,  Mr.  Baldwin,"  and  likely  to  be 
"important  and  beneficial  for  divine  worship."  This  paper 
was  signed  by  eighteen  of  the  members  of  the  Class  of  1787. 
Abraham  Nott,  afterwards  Chief  Justice  of  South  Carolina, 
and  Augustus  Baldwin,  afterwards  a  Georgian  lawyer,  were 
chosen  to  lead  the  school. 

A  college  friend  writes  him,  in  January,  1784,  that  he  has 
been  glad  to  hear  that  his  class  are  fond  of  him,  "and,  in  a 
word,  that  Yale  is  once  more  blest  with  a  popular  tutor." 

One  of  his  Albany  friends,  Robert  Henry,  Jr.,  writes  him 
thus,  on  January  26,  1784: 


1  88  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

"You  mention  your  being  shut  up  again  in  the  dull  Cloister 
of  the  College  -  -  happy  are  those,  whose  minds  like  yours, 
are  not  confined  to  place,  but  can  at  large  survey  the  works 
of  nature,  and  from  thence  draw  an  inexhaustable  source  of 
pleasure.  Happy  the  youths  who  have  for  their  Tutor  a  man 
like  you  on  whom  gentle  manners,  knowledge  of  the  world, 
and  learning  are  combined. 

If  I  am  to  credit  the  reports  I  hear  you  do  not  shut  your 
self  out  altogether  from  the  social  Circle,  as  I  am  told  you 
pretty  often  pay  a  visit  to  a  certain  Fair  One  whos  name,  if  I 
recollect  right  is  Miss  Sally." 

The  Journal  for  November  proceeds  as  follows  : 

Y.  College        Nothing    disagreeable    has    yet    hapned    in    the 
I2       course  of  my  College  connection.      This  day  wrote 


a  Letter  to  Mr  Henry's  family  of  Albany  by  Mr 
Leonard  Gansevoort  who  hapned  accidentally  here 
•  As  Mr  Lovett  from  the  caprice  of  his  odd 
humour  had  wrote  me  no  Letter,  or  even  sent  Com 
pliments  by  the  Albany  Scholars  -  -  I  thot  best  to 
treat  him  in  the  same  way  -  -  altho  no  open  rupture 
has  ever  taken  place  between  us  - 

Dec  ii  This  day  Thanksgiving  I  supt  at  Docr  Wales',  the 

Thursday  professor  __  my  brother  Tutors  were  there  too  .  . 
in  the  evening  went  into  Esqr  Shermans  &  took  the 
Ladies  to  Cap1  Daggetts.  there  left  them  till  I 
went  on  to  Docr  Beardsley's,6  who  had  just  returned 
from  Europe  spent  a  few  hours  very  sociably  - 
returned  &  escorted  back  the  Ladies  - 

Wednesday  Was  Quarter-day  of  the  senior  class  --a  brilliant 
assembly  attended  —  after  the  exercises  I  had 
several  of  them  to  my  chamber  —  till  Evening  when 
I  attended  the  Ball,  which  was  made  on  the  occa 
sion  -  -  the  time  pass'd  agreeably,  while  there  the 
Miss  Sherman  was  my  partner  —  we  retired  a  little 
after  no  Clock  - 

6  Dr.  Ebenezer  Beardsley,  a  physician  and  druggist  in  New  Haven. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


189 


Mond. 

22 


Thursd. 
25 


Sat. 
27 


New  Haven 
Monday 
Dec.  29 


Took  Tea  at  the  Presidents  with  a  large  Circle  of 
Ladies  —  spent  the  Evening  there  in  various  chit 
chat  &c 

Christmas,  went  to  church  Mr  Leming  preached  ;7 
was  very  cold,  got  no  Christmas  supper  —  but  in 
the  Evening  had  a  brilliant  Ball  —  the  first  of  a 
regular  Assembly  which  was  lately  established  by 
subscription  —  I  had  the  honor  to  be  appointed  a 
manager  —  Miss  Sherman  was  my  partner  for  the 
Eve  —  the  time  pass'd  pretty  well  —  tho  some 
things  respecting  the  provisional  part  of  the  enter 
tainment  were  hardly  eligible. 

met  with  managers  &  determined  on  some  regula 
tions;  among  the  rest,  to  have  the  House  of  Dr 
Northrop  &  to  make  use  of  Mr  Lathrops  for  the 
purpose  — 

After  the  usual  business  of  College,  made  a  visit 
at  Dr  Beardsleys.  he  was  not  at  home  —  had  a 
good  deal  of  time  &  agreeable  conversation  with 
Miss  Patty  Comstock  a  relation  of  his.  She  is  a 
young  Lady  of  sensibility,  has  a  good  education  & 
a  great  deal  of  real  virtue  &  goodness  of  heart  — 
she  has  for  several  months  been  declining  by  a  con- 
sumtion  -  -  is  sensible  of  her  decay  &  short  con 
tinuance,  which  makes  her  virtues  the  more  amiable 
&  conspicuous. 

Visited  at  Esq.  Shermans ;  all  were  kind  &  after 
the  Ladies  came  home  I  was  soon  left  in  the  Com 
pany  of  one  of  them  -  I  tarried  not  long  &  during 
that  time  conversation  was  on  various  &  common 
topics  —  she  appeared  very  agreeable  &  sociable  .  . 

Paid  the  Compliments  of  the  season  to  but  few  — 
made  a  few  reflections  to  my  Class  &  some  to  myself 
upon  the  occasion  — 

Attended    upon    the    Assembly    again,    it    was       5 
brought  forward  one  week  upon  the  occasion  that 
the  Gen.  Assembly  —  &  a  Lodge  of  Masons  would 

7  Probably  Rev.  Jeremiah  Learning,  D.D.  (Yale,  Class  of  1745). 


Jan. 
1784 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

be  in  Town  upon  the  usual  time  —  It  was  held  at 
Mr  Lathrops  -  -  his  dancing  room  is  hardly  so  con 
venient  as  that  of  Docr  Northrop's,  but  the  drawing 
rooms  have  no  comparison  -  -  they  are  all  better  — 
a  fire  was  made  before  hand  in  each  -  -  they  were 
warm  -  The  Ladies  as  they  came  in,  after  laying 
aside  their  cloaks  &c  were  all  conducted  into  one  of 
them  'till  the  Gentm  drew  numbers  for  ymSelves  & 
the  Ladies  they  conducted  -  A  Master  of  Cere 
monies  was  then  chosen  for  the  night  (viz)  Mr 
Edwards  -  he  then  called  13  Couple  upon  the  floor 

-  dividing  the  whole  into  3  Setts  -       my  Number 
was  2  &  Mra  Powel  for  a  partner.     The  supper  was 
provided  by  Mr  Mix  &  a  very  good  one  -  -  &  the 
singular    Decency   which    was   observed   thro   the 
whole    added    to    the    pleasure    &    the    beauty    of 
the  Scene  -      I  escorted  the  two  Miss  Shermans  — 

N  Haven  Mr  Fitch  lately  from  Europe  did  me  the  pleasure 
Jan.  ii  to  spend  3  or  4  hours  with  me  -  He  gave  me  the 
1784  history,  as  far  as  he  could  in  so  short  a  time,  of 

what  he  had  done  &  seen  -  he  has  indeed  seen 
much ;  has  done  it  mentally  -  -  done  it  to  purpose ; 
has  improved  much  in  manners  &  in  knowledge  — 
has  formed  many  agreeable  acquaintances  &  estab 
lished  a  good  Correspondence  for  Trade. 

He  with  Mr  Goodrich  dined  with  me  in  the  Hall 

-  &  all  with  Mr  Little  took  Tea  &  spent  part  of  the 
Evening  at  Mr  Meigs  -  -  &  from  that  to  Esq  Sher 
mans  for  a  few  moments  -      next  day  took  Tea  at 
Presidents 

Tuesday          College   was   dismissed   in   the   morning,    for   a 
13  Vacancy  of  3  Weeks  -      feel  myself  liberated  from 

much  fatigue,  Care  &  anxiety  -  -  these  in  a  peculiar 
manner  attend  a  College  office  —  I  shall  not  leave 
Town  much  -  -  shall  mostly  be  employed  I  believe 
in  studying  into  points  in  Divinity  in  whh  I  have 
doubts  -  -  for  whatever  business  in  Life  I  follow  — 
that  cannot  be  omited  -  writing  Letters  &  biding 
farewell  engrossed  my  whole  attention  for  the 
Day  — 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  191 

Read  a  curious  history  of  Connecticut,  written  15 
&  printed  in  England  .  .  Peters  the  reputed 
Author  .  .  the  singularity  of  the  performance 
tho'  void  of  much  merit  made  entertaining;  took 
tea  at  Esq  Shermans  -  conversed  with  Miss  most 
of  the  Evening. 

In  the  afternoon  rode  in  the  Sleigh  to  Goodyers  16 
-  Mess"  Fitch  &  Goodrich  &  Misses  Shermans  & 
Allen  made  our  party  -  we  were  joined  when 
there  by  a  large  Circle  from  Town  —  danced  a  little 
&  returned  before  9  o  Clock  —  Mr  Fitch  lodged 
with  me  as  he  had  done  for  two  nights  before  — 
we  conversed  much  upon  his  voiage  &  observa 
tions  — 

Was    employed   mostly   in   making   an    Electric     17 
receiver  &  repairing  the  Apparatus  -  -  received  a 
visit  from  Mr  Mix  Mitchell.8 

Sabath ;  attended  Meeting  at  Mr  Edwards  Parish     Jan.  18 
in  the  afternoon  -  -  Mr  Trumbul  preached 
A  very  remarkable  change  of  weather,  from  2  Deg.     19 
below  Cypher  which  it  was  on  Saturday  -        it  is 
now  very  warm  &  attended  with  a  most  heavy  rain 
&  violent  winds  -       snow  melts  very  fast.  - 

A  Comet  was  discovered  in  the  southern  Hemi-  20 
sphere  &  as  the  President  was  unwell  he  desired 
Mr  Channing  &  myself  to  investigate  its  true  place 
&  make  what  discoveries  we  could  -  It  had  now 
however  got  so  low  towards  ye  Horizon  &  so  very 
could  that  we  could  not  be  particular  - 

Our  Telescope  being  out  of  order  we  employed  21 
most  of  the  forenoon  in  rectifying  it  -  -  &  in  the 
Evening  we  proceeded  to  ascertain  the  true  place 
of  the  Comet  -  The  sun  was  in  the  2  Degree  of 
Aquarius  &  the  Comet  so  near  as  to  be  past  the 
meridian  at  sunset.  Our  method  was  therefore 
to  look  out  2  or  more  stars  of  the  i,  2,  or  3  magni 
tude  which  were  nearly  in  a  range  with  the  Comet, 
which  we  determined  by  a  thread  -  these  obser- 

8  Stephen  Mix  Mitchell  (Yale,  Class  of  1763). 


1 92  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

vations  we  made  from  various  parts  of  the  Heavens 
&  by  applying  them  to  the  Celestial  Globe  deter 
mined  the  place  of  ye  Comet  to  be  in  the  point  of 
intersection  -  which  fell  near  the  greatest  bend 
of  the  stream  from  Aquarius's  pot.  at  about  22° 
south  Lat.  near  the  Letter  d.  the  stars  of  obser 
vation  were  — 

1.  &     in  the  Breast  of  Pegasus    ) 

2.  in  the  tail  of  the  whale        V  at  2°  ™m' 

3.  a  in  Aries  &      in  tail  of  whale  ) 

we  made  our  Telescope  to  bear,  but  twas  so  hazy 
that  it  appeared  little  better  than  to  naked  Eye  — 

2S  Cloudy  &  hazy  for  several  days  past  so  that  no 

observation  could  be  made  —  this  Evening  was 
clear  but  so  cold  that  I  did  not  chuse  to  go  into  the 
Library  -  -  but  to  the  Eye  it  appeared  to  have  rose 
a  little  towards  the  Zenith  -  spent  the  Evening 
'till  no  Clock  in  agreeable  chit-chat  upon  old  & 
new  matters  —  with  - 

N  Haven          Walked  with   Mr  Fitch  to  the  ship  which  lay 

Jan.  26.  frozen  up  in  the  Harbour  -  -  she  was  3  miles  from 
Town  -  -  we  went  on  the  Ice:  the  hands  were 
attempting  to  cut  her  out  —  she  was  bound  for 

29  Ireland  -  Thursday  Evening  attended  Assembly 

—  a  large  Collection  of  strangers  honoured  the 
Company  -  all  matters  much  as  usual  .... 

Feb  Was  made  a  Freeman  of  the  State  of  Connecticut 

5  &  City  of  N  Haven  — 

6  Introduced  to  a  Mr  Joy  of  Boston  &  a  very  modest 
&  agreeable  Dutchman,  one  Capt.    .     .     he  was  on 
his  travels  for  Improvement  &  seemed  to  have  a 
talent  to  make  them  so  —  was  very  Inquisitive  — 
&  manifested  a  good  judgment  &  Tast  in  his  Ques 
tions  —    He  was  free  from  light  Airs  but  had  an 
engaging  Address  &  modest  Assurance  which  en 
deared  him  to  the  whole  Circle  —  We  took  Tea  at 
the  Presidents  - 

8  P.  M.  to  past  7.      Observed  the  place  of  the 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


'93 


1784 

Feb  10. 
Tuesday 


Comet.  A  line  from  H  of  the  Whale  to  A  of  the 
Pegasus,  runs  thro'  Comet  —  Another  from 
the  B.  of  Andromeda  to  y  of  Pegasus's  Wing  — 
strikes  the  Comet  in  the  point  of  Intersection  — 

A  Perpendicular  from  the  y  above  leaves  the 
Comet  but  little  to  the  South  — 

College  began  to  come  together  last  Wednesday 
Orders  are  now  observed  as  usual  &  matters  yet 
go  on  quietly  — 

Spent  the  Eve  in  agreeable  chitchat  with  . 
&  next  day  took  Tea  at  Mr  Meigs:9  some  of  his 
friends  from  Stratford  were  present,  &  the  two 
Miss  Shermans  -  Tuesday  10  was  appointed  by 
the  Assembly  to  chuse  the  City  officers  of  our  Cor 
poration  -  we  met  at  the  Statehouse  &  made 
choice  of  Mr  Meigs  as  our  Clerk  &  the  Hon.  Roger 
Sherman  was  chosen  Mayor  -  Deacons  Howel  — 
Bishop  -  -  Austin  &  Mr  Bears  were  elected  Alder 
men  &  in  the  two  following  days  were  chosen  & 
qualified  the  twenty  Common  Councillors  &  two 
sheriffs  &  Treasurer  as  appointed  by  charter  — 
the  method  was  by  balloting,  which  made  it  very 
slow  — 

On  Tuesday  the  mercury  in  the  Thermometer  was 
down  to  10  below  Cypher  - 

Was  pleasured  with  a  Visit  from  Mr  Gilbert  of 
Cloverac. 

Rode  in  sleigh  accompanied  by  the  Rev^  President 
&  Dr  Wales  -  -  Mr  Russel  &  Miss  Betsey  Stiles  to 
Brantford  to  attend  the  ordination  of  my  Class 
mate  Atwater  -  -  twas  a  fine  Day  —  good  sleighing 
&  of  course  many  People  were  collected  -  -  the  Gal 
leries  of  the  meeting  House  full,  waiting  the 
approaching  solemnities  —  But  at  the  expected 
time  word  was  given  from  the  Council  that  there 

9  Josiah  Meigs  (Yale,  Class  of  1778)  was  a  tutor  at  Yale  at  this 
time,  resigning  May  6,  1784.  He  was  married  in  1782,  while  a  tutor, 
to  Miss  Clara  Benjamin  of  Stratford,  Conn. 


12 

Thursday 

18 
Wednesday 


i94 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


would  be  no  ordination  that  Day  —  It  was  post 
poned  for  three  weeks  on  account  of  the  opposition 
of  about  20  persons  —  some  of  the  leading  char 
acters  in  the  place  —  Their  Conduct  however  was 
by  no  means  honourable  —  for  at  the  first  Society 
meeting  near  that  number  appeared  but  at  a  second 
six  only  opposed  &  the  others  app( eared)  so 
unanimous  as  to  raise  the  sallery  from  90  to  an 
i oof  -  Mr  Atwater  was  of  course  deceived  'till 
on  the  Evening  preceding  the  Day  for  ordination 
a  paper  was  handed  to  the  Council  -  -  seting  forth 
the  wishes  of  the  opponents,  their  Number  &  Names 
—  upon  which  twas  their  advice  to  wait  &  see  if 
the  Difficulties  could  not  subside  or  be  surmounted 

-  Mr  Atwater  feels  the  wound  upon  his  tender 
feelings  most  sensibly  &  is  pretty  much  determined 
to  leave  them 

We  stop'd  at  Dr  Goulds10  —  dined  with  Mr  Bald 
win,  received  an  invitation  to  stay  and  Dance  — 
accepted  it  -  -  visited  Mr  Atwater  -  -  took  Tea  at 
Dr  G  —  Danced  -  -  came  back  &  slept  there  & 
breakfasted  the  next  Day  -  -  visited  Mr  Atwater  — 
comforted  him  -  took  his  Horse  because  we 
could  not  find  a  Sleigh  in  Town  —  put  Miss  Stiles 
&  Miss  Polly  Gould  in  sleigh  going  to  Town  -  -  & 
got  home  about  noon  on 

•  sent  back  our   Horses  &  am  now  just  as 
before     .     .     . 

As  I  was  coming  into  Town,  was  stop'd  by  Mr 
Clark,  a  manager  with  me,  of  the  Assembly,  he 
told  me  that  some  of  the  young  Company  had  used 
their  influence  to  foment  as  much  Difficulty,  in  the 
subscribers  of  the  Assembly  as  was  possible  —  that  a 
number,  to  about  20,  had  drawn  off  &  agreed  upon  a 
Dance  &  Supper  at  Fords  —  that  they  had  made  the 
omission  of  Suppers  —  agreed  on  by  the  managers 

10  Dr.  Wm.  Gould,  Jr.,  a  Branford  physician,  father  of  Judge  James 
Gould  of  Litchfield. 


Thursday 
19 

N  Haven 

1784 

Thursday 
Feb.  19 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


'95 


March  10. 
1784 


—  the  basis  of  their  proceedings  &c  —  I  walked 
about  Town  a  little  among  my  friends,  found  all 
was  uproar  &  party  -  -  soon  saw  Mr  Hillhouse  who 
was  pleased  to  give  me  an  Invitation  to  the  Ball 
of  the  seceders  -  Gave  him  my  mind  pretty  fully 
&  openly  -  They  pretty  soon  found  they  were  in 
disagreeable  Circumstances  -  -  &  about  4  o  Clock 
agreed  to  pay  Ford  for  his  preparation  &  attend 
the  regular  Assembly  -  -  they  were  accordingly  all 
present  except  Lieut  Dagget  -  -  Mess18  Hillhouse  & 
Whitney  We  called  the  Gentlemen  to  a  room  by 
themselves  &  found  by  Vote  that  they  approved 
of  the  Doings  of  the  managers  -  -  we  had  a  very 
agreeable  Assembly  &  by  appointment  I  acted  as 
Master  of  Ceremonies  •  Escorted  Miss  Cloe 
Sherman  &  Miss  Polly  Gould  -  -  drew  for  partner 
Miss  Betsey  Stiles  — 

"Was  the  Quarterday  of  the  Junior  Class  of  the 
College  the  Exercises  were  very  clever  &  humor 
ous  -  -  a  large  Collection  of  both  sexes  attended 
I  took  Tea  at  Esqr  Shermans  &  escorted  Miss 
Rebecca  to  the  Ball  -  -  which  was  attended  at  the 
State  House.  Tarried  &  was  agreeably  entertained 
till  12  o  Clock  - 

-  gave  the  Tickets  &  attended  the  Assembly.     Thursday 
had  for  partners  the  two  Miss  Shermans  &  drew 

Miss  Betsy  Beers  - 

-  was  happy  in  visit  from  Mr  Perkins,  was  with     Saturday 
him  most  of  the  day  - 

received  a  handsome  superfine  cloth  coat  -  -  as 
a  present  from  my  Class  -  -  twas  a  valuable  hand 
some  &  well  timed  present  &  of  course  I  was  ani 
mated  with  those  lively  feelings  which  gave  me  a 
pleasure  in  expressing  my  Gratitude  -  for  the 
Honour  of  the  Compliment  &  the  value  of  the 
Thing  - 

At  this  period  each  of  the  tutors  had  particular  charge  of 
one  class,  and  it  was  usual  for  this  class  in  the  course  of  the 


1 96  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

college  year  to  express  their  acknowledgment  of  his  services, 
and  make  him  some  present,  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  Baldwin's 
remarks  on  this  occasion  follow: 

"-  'Tis  with  a  Heart  warmed  with  Gratitude  &  glowing 
with  Affection,  that  I  now  arise  to  return  you  my  many 
thanks  for  your  renewed  marks  of  Attention,  respect  & 
affection  -  -  of  all  which  the  elegant  Present  made  in  the 
compliment  of  this  coat  is  a  renewed  assurance  -  I  should 
be  wanting  in  the  feelings  of  humanity,  did  I  not  feel  the 
most  lively  animation  on  such  an  occasion  -  It  is  ever 
pleasing  to  the  generous  Soul  to  find  opportunities  of  express 
ing  its  gratitude  -  -  &  it  must  be  peculiarly  so  to  one  at  this 
time  -  -  not  only  from  a  reflection  on  the  greatness  of  the 
obligation  -  -  but  from  the  assurance  which  accompanies  it, 
of  the  pleasure  &  affection  of  those  whom  it  is  my  greatest 
object  to  please  &  instruct. 

What  more  pleasing  situation  can  a  man  have  than  to  see 
himself  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  lively  youth  --  whose  whole 
attention  is  engrossed  in  the  improvements  of  the  mind  -  -  in 
enlarging  their  Souls  &  exalting  the  Dignity  of  their  Nature 
-  the  very  thought  is  animating  &  if  I  can  be  instrumental 
in  promoting  an  object  so  grand  surely  it  must  afford  me 
the  most  sensible  pleasure  -  And  All  must  be  sensible  that 
the  pleasure  of  an  instructor  is  very  much  by  the  Confidence 
&  Affection  of  his  pupils 

The  Task  you  have  undertaken  is  great,  'tis  important  to 
your  future  usefulness  -  -  &  'tis  with  Pleasure  I  can  look 
forward  to  the  future  scenes  of  an  active  Life  &  flatter 
myself  with  many  shining  characters,  even  from  those  I 
have  the  honour  to  instruct  —  in  redoubling  my  attention 
with  a  view  to  prepare  you  for  these  important  ends,  it  shall 
be  my  endeavour  to  make  some  return  for  the  renewed 
obligations  you  have  confer'd  — 

I  say  it  with  equal  truth  &  pleasure,  that  no  situation  in 
the  Tutorial  Office  could  please  me  so  well  as  the  one  in 
which  I  am  hapily  located  -  -  &  you  may  depend  on  it  that 
so  long  as  I  have  your  confidence  &  esteem  —  I  never  shall 
willingly  leave  yours  for  any  other  Class  —  my  own  f elings 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  197 

require  it  &  gratitude  for  your  kindness  &  affection  require 
it  — 

You  will  therefore  please  to  receive  my  Assurances  of 
affection  &  esteem  -  -  &  that  I  shall  ever  take  a  pleasure  in 
seeing-  your  progress  —  &  think  myself  bound  by  the  strong 
est  ties  to  promote  -  you'll  also  receive  my  sincere  thanks, 
both  for  the  honor  done  me  in  the  Compliment,  &  for  so 
valuable  &  elegant  a  present/' 

On  July  23,  he  was  presented  by  the  same  class  with  a 
tamboured  satin  vest,  a  pair  of  florentine  breeches,  and  two 
pairs  of  silk  stockings,  and  responded  as  follows : 

"This  renewed  Expression  of  your  AfP  in  the  Instance  of 
your  late  generosity  •  certainly  calls  for  my  sincerest 
Thanks  -  -  I  cannot  express,  my  pupils,  the  pleasure  which 
I  receive  from  this  renewed  Expression  of  your  friendship 
without  making  use  of  that  Language  which  would  be  ful 
some  to  you.  -  Yet  I  can  say  it  gives  me  a  heartfelt  pleasure, 
a  pleasing,  a  virtuous  vanity  to  reflect  that  I  have  the  friend 
ships  of  those  so  dear  to  me. 

I  have  had  the  satisfaction  to  experience  the  reciprocal 
feelings  of  a  pupil  &  instructor  -  -  I  know  them  both  to  be 
tender  -  -  for  however  the  sentiments  of  some  may  be,  that 
an  Instructor  has  no  further  care  or  anxiety  than  simply  to 
discharge  the  Duties  of  his  Office  &  that  for  the  sake  of 
imployment,  the  feelings  of  evry  Instructor  that  is  possessed 
but  of  common  sensibility  can  assure  you  to  the  contrary  — 

And  altho  Instructors  do  not  in  general  previously  know 
the  Individuals  of  which  their  classes  are  composed  —  yet 
they  know  that  in  general  'tis  a  selection  of  youth  which  are 
worthy  of  their  Esteem  &  friendship  —  add  to  this  their  fre 
quent  intercourse  &  mutual  endeavour  to  please  &  they  form 
a  tenderness  for  each  other  which  time  does  not  easily 
obliterate. 

This  renewed  instance  of  your  Generosity  is  a  repeated 
Indication  of  this  tenderness  on  your  part,  as  well  as  that 
regular  conduct  and  dutiful  carriage  which  has  ever  graced 
the  course  of  our  Connection.  —  &  I  pray  that  I  may  never 


198  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

be  wanting  in  a  becoming1  Gratitude  on  my  part  -  -  or  that 
lively  sensibility  which  I  now  have  the  pleasure  to  expe 
rience  —  or  that  I  may  never  be  wanting  in  evry  endeavour 
that  can  promote  your  furtherance  in  evry  thing  laudable. 

I  think  it  will  be  no  more  than  a  becoming  sensibility  -  -  if 
in  the  public  exercises  of  this  year  I  indulge  a  little  virtuous 
pride  —  when  I  behold  myself  surrounded  &  clad  in  the  Love, 
the  friendship  &  the  generosity  of  my  pupils. 

You  will  therefore  please  to  accept  of  my  sincerest  thanks 
for  this  recent  instance  of  your  attention  in  the  very  valuable 
&  elegant  suit  of  underdress  which  I  this  day  received  from 
you." 

A  year  later  the  class  gave  him  a  superfine  claret  colored 
coat  and  white  cassimere  underdress,  which  called  out  the 
following  parting  speech.  It  is  worth  remark  that  while 
given  on  the  fourth  of  July,  no  allusion  was  made  to  its 
anniversary  significance. 

"You  have  done  me  great  honour  my  pupils  in  the  Expres 
sion  of  your  Esteem  which  you  have  made  me  this  day. 

Nothing  can  be  more  agreeable  &  important  to  those  who 
are  occupied  in  Employments  like  mine,  than  the  assurance 
of  the  friendship  &  Affection  of  those  with  whom  we  are 
connected  -  as  no  situation  is  more  agreeable  where  mutual 
confidence  subsists,  so  none  can  be  more  disagreeable  if  the 
contrary  takes  place  -  it  gives  me  the  greatest  pleasure 
therefore  that  I  may  acknowledge  your  Esteem  &  Affection 
which  I  know  accompanies  the  very  valuable  &  Elegant 
present  which  I  have  this  Day  received  from  you.  I  will  not 
use  flattery  in  what  I  say,  but  I  may  indulge  my  feelings  & 
may  in  part  express  them. 

There  cannot  in  the  nature  of  things  be  a  more  noble  or 
animating  employment  than  the  improving  &  ornamenting 
the  human  mind:  'tis  this  adorns,  expands  &  enobles  the 
Dignity  of  Man  — 

I  wish  my  abilities  for  this  Task  were  greater  than  they 
are  —  Youth  has  not  the  maturity  of  riper  years  nor  can  so 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  1 99 

much  be  expected  from  them  —  Our  imperfections  are 
surmounted  alone  by  asiduity  to  the  object  in  view  -  -  Grati 
tude  as  well  as  the  sentiments  of  Duty  &  the  passion  for 
applause  &  honor  will  certainly  animate  me  to  evry  exertion 
which  may  terminate  in  your  advantage  —  I  never  wish 
to  be  confined  to  the  stated  Hours  of  recitation  -  I  shall 
ever  be  open  to  the  pleasure  of  private  instruction  — 

Your  improvement  is  at  present  my  highest  ambition  & 
I  can  anticipate  pleasure  from  the  future  employments  of 
many  of  those  whom  I  have  had  the  honour  to  instruct  — 
Nothing  then  is  wanting  to  make  our  employment  agreeable 
but  the  assurance  of  the  Confidence  of  those  whom  we 
instruct 

It  gave  me  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  in  the  public  exercises 
of  the  last  year,  that  I  could  view  my  self  clad  in  the  Love 
&  Affection  of  my  pupils.  I  thought  I  might  indulge  a  little 
virtuous  pride  in  the  Idea  &  I  am  sure  'twas  more  than  what 
I  could  reasonably  expect  would  be  repeated  — 

The  class  have  done  me  great  honour  in  this  Compliment 

—  you  will  please  to  receive  my  thanks  for  this  very  elegant 
suit  -  -  my  assurance  of  affection  &  wishes  &  endeavours  for 
your  prosperity." 

This  note,  accepting  an  invitation  from  his  partner  to  tea, 
refers  probably  to  this  occasion : 

"Mr  Baldwin  is  particularly  happy  in  receiving  so  polite  & 
very  pretty  a  billet  from  M8  R  Sherman  —  &  with  his  com 
pliments  to  Miss  Sherman,  engages  to  do  himself  the  pleasure 
to  be  with  her  &  the  other  Ladies  at  Tea  — 
Y.  C  Tuesday  n,  oClock." 

The  Journal  proceeds  thus : 

After  much  difficulty  in  procuring  a  couple  of  N  Haven 
horses  -  -  Mr  Russel  &  I  set  out  to  ride  for  exercise  £arch^9 

—  objects  of  course  Health  &  pleasure  —  made         1784 
ourselves  merry  on  the  road,  to  North  Haven  — 
stop'd  at  a  Tavern  about  4  miles  out  —  called  for 


200  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

Egg-punch  -  -  could  git  none  -  -  the  Girls  took  us, 
honest  as  we  were,  for  high  rakes  —  &  the  poor 
souls  were  frighted  -  we  renewed  our  applica 
tions  after  several  fruitless  attempts  at  a  neighbour 
ing  private  House  -  -  where  after  much  persuasion 
&  a  few  Compliments  we  obtained  the  promise  of 
Punch.  The  good  Lady  undertook  to  make  it  - 
she  beat  the  Yolk  &  White  of  her  two  Eggs,  which 
indeed  were  all  she  had,  in  a  foot  Glass  with  a  Tea 
spoon  -  Her  sugar  was  answerable  in  quality  & 
quantity  —  our  mortifycation  was  that  we  could  not 
Laugh  -  -  we  drank  our  punch  &  I  came  home  very 
unwell  -  was  better  the  next  day  - 

April  Attended  the  Assembly  with  my  usual  Partner  - 

thro'  a  mistake  Mr  Ogden  &  I  claimed  one  partner 
in  the  Dance  -  -  Miss  Lord  -  He  would  not  sub 
mit  to  a  new  Lottery  -  -  twas  left  with  the  Master 
of  Ceremonies  -  -  he  decided  in  my  favour  -  -  it 
almost  occasioned  a  Chalenge  — 

April  Took  Tea  at  Mr  David  Austin's  —    A  large  & 

brilliant  Circle  graced  the  room  — 

April  4  Attended  to  the  Grave  the  remains  of  the  amiable 

&  the  Virtuous  Miss  Patty  Comstock  -  she  was 
the  niece  &  favourite  of  Dr  Beardsley  who 
brought  her  up  with  the  care  &  attention  of  a 
parent  ...  On  her  Coffin  was  written  the 
following  sentiment  - 

Youth 
sweetness  & 
Sensibility     .     . 
were  her  own 

but 

they  could  not 
save  her  — 

A  great  concourse  of  people  attended  And  I  as 
one  of  the  bearers  —  we  accompanied  the  mourners 
back  —  &  instead  of  the  Dutch  Custom  had  a  Dish 
of  Tea 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


201 


Wednesday 
21 


Thursday 
22 


Monday 
26 


Spent  the  Evening  at  Esq  Shermans  —  &  pre 
sented  a  Ladies  Pocket-Book  of  Morocco  Leather, 
a  glass  &  set  of  Ladies  instruments  inclosed  — 

Had  a  very  agreeable  ride,  with  a  small  party  on 
pleasure  of  which  I  made  one  —  Miss  Allen  & 
Sherman  were  in  a  Carriage  —  Mr  Goodrich  & 
myself  on  Horseback  -  -  we  rode  to  the  Hospital  — 
&  took  Tea  with  Miss  Sherman  — 

Spent  the  Afternoon  with  a  large  Circle  of  both 
Sexes  at  Cap*  Powell's,  the  Evening  was  devoted 
to  plays  &  Dancing  - 

Began  the  Spring  Examination  —  with  the 
Senior  Class,  the  forenoon  was  spent  pretty  much 
upon  the  Languages  -  -  &  the  whole  of  the  After 
noon  was  devoted  to  Questions  -  -  upon  the  various 
Branches  of  Science  which  they  had  studied  - 

Rested  from  Examination  —  in  the  morning  rode 
to  the  Hospital:  they  were  all  fully  broke  out  — 
But  the  Revd  Mr  Bird,11  afforded  a  spectacle  shock 
ing  to  humanity  -  -  his  whole  Body  covered  with 
the  protuberance  of  the  confluent  Eruption  now 
returning  inward.  we  could  see  him  thro  the 
Window  -  he  began  to  look  black  &  twas  said  to 
mortify  --so  that  there  was  no  prospect  of  a  recov 
ery  -  A  certain  Mr  Crane,  appeared  but  little 
better  -  -  both  of  them  died  a  few  days  after  - 

Vacation  commenced.  I  took  leave  of  friends 
&  rode  to  Somers  to  pay  my  first  respects  to  my 
brother  Colton  -  -  found  him  a  very  plain  but  very 
good  Man ;  my  sister  was  very  happy  in  her  situa 
tion  &  in  him,  &  that  was  enough  to  make  me  love 
him.  Mr  Backus  was  very  attentive  to  me  &  made 
my  stay  very  agreeable  -  while  in  that  quarter  I 
made  a  tour  to  Longmeadow  —  Springfield,  Enfield, 
Westfield  &  Suffield  several  very  pretty  Towns 
which  I  never  saw  before.  on  my  return  Mr. 

11  Rev.  Samuel  Bird,  who  until  1767  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  the 
White  Haven  Society  of  New  Haven. 


1784 

May 

i 


New  Haven 


May 
6 


2O2  Life  at  YaU  as  a  Tutor 

Witter  was  at  Somers,  who  accompanied  me  the 
Day  before  Election  to  hartford.  the  usual  Parade 
attended  it  -  -  was  in  the  Evening  at  a  pretty  good 
Ball  &  the  Day  following  rode  to  Norwich  with  a 
merry  circle  composed  of  Messra  Witter,  Brown, 
Lathrop;  &  Bishop  with  Miss  Sally  Beers  in  a 
chaise  -  I  had  the  pleasure  of  making  an  agree 
able  exchange  of  my  horse  for  his  Situation  — 

Spent  the  remainder  of  the  Vacation  the  usual 
visits,  till  I  returned  to  Newhaven  on  the  27  of  May. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Beers12  and  Miss  Sally  Maria  Beers13  were 
leaders  in  New  Haven  society.  They  were  the  daughters 
of  Hon.  Isaac  Beers,  President  of  the  New  Haven  Bank. 
Each  had  been  carefully  educated  in  the  accomplishments 
of  the  day.  Miss  "Betsey,"  as  she  was  commonly  called, 
wrote  a  letter,  which  has  been  preserved,  in  French  from 
New  York  to  Miss  Betsey  Sherman,  which  shows  that  she 
had  considerable  familiarity  with  that  language.  It  received 
more  attention  in  Connecticut,  after  the  French  troops  had 
joined  the  American  forces  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  than 
ever  before. 

On  Presentation  day,  July  21,  1784,  Tutor  Baldwin  pre 
sented  the  candidates  for  degrees  in  a  Latin  address,  which 
he  closed  with  the  expression  of  the  hope  that  all  friends 
of  virtue  and  science  would  unite  in  saying  "diu  vivat  aeter- 
noque  effloreat  Praeses  edoctus  —  alma  mater,  Yalensia,  diu 
vigeat,  diutissime  que  effloreat."1 

12  Miss  Elizabeth  Beers  married  Joseph  L.  Wooster  (Yale,  Class  of 
1786)  on  Feb.  28,  1794. 

13  Miss  Sally  Beers  married,  on  September  12,  1786,  William  Leffing- 
well  of  Norwich  (the  evening  before  the  Commencement  at  which  he 
was  graduated  from  Yale). 

14  Long  live  and  in  eternity  flourish  our  learned  President :    Long 
livejand,  as  long  as  time  lasts,  flourish  Bounteous  Mother  Yale. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  203 

The  Tutors,  in  this  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  came 
much  closer  to  each  other,  and  also  to  the  President  than  did 
their  successors,  later.  Professor  Daggett  had  died  in  1780, 
and  his  work  was  assumed  by  Dr.  Stiles.  Professor  Strong 
resigned  in  1781.  Professor  Wales  was  appointed  in  1782. 
His  main  duty  was  to  fill  the  pulpit,  and  he  stood  apart  by 
himself.  The  President  and  the  Tutors  really  formed  the 
College  circle.  We  hear  of  their  riding  off  together,  of  a 
summer  afternoon,  for  an  excursion  into  the  country.15  The 
Tutors  seem  to  have  been  always  hospitably  received  at  the 
President's  house,  and  had  a  place  of  importance  in  the 
society  of  the  town. 

We  resume  the  Journal  at  its  next  date: 

Some  time  in  August  made  a  party  to  the  ordina-     "August 
tion  of  my  friend  Mr  Stebbins,  at  Stratford  -  -  I 
took  Miss  Sherman  into  my  carriage  for  a  partner 

-  two  others  were  in  company  with  us  -  -  we  were 
a  little  too  late  —  the  Town  crowded  with  Company 
&  the  meeting  house  before  we  were  dress'd  was  full 

-  we  were  put  to  much  difficulty  to  obtain  a  seat  — 
till  Mr  Lockwood  politely  made  room  for  my  partner 
—  we  dined  at  Esq.  Brooks,  &  closed  the  day  with  a 
very  good  Ball  -       the  next  day  dined  at  Mr  Steb 
bins  Quarters  -  -  took  Tea  at  Dr  Johnsons16  &  spent 
the  Evening  most  agreeably  at  Mr  Benjamins  - 
entertained  with  a  variety  of  music.  —    the  day 
following  we  returned  —  I  to  the  common  round 
of  business  till  Commencement     . 

was  Commencement  -  -  the  fatigue  of  preparing    college 
an  Oration  to  which  I  had  been  appointed  —  &  that     Sept?  8 
of  a  great  confinement  during  near  a  weeks  Exam 
ination   of   the   respective   Classes,   prevented   me 
from   enjoying   that   pleasure   which   such   scenes 
usually  give  —     the  exhibitions  of  the  Evening 

15  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  236. 

16  William  Samuel  Johnson  (Yale,  Class  of  1744). 


204  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

before  Com1  were  very  entertaining  altho'  not  per 
fectly  scholastic  — 

The  Procession  was  as  usual  of  those  who  were 
immediately  connected  with  College  —  A  saluta 
tory  Oration,  a  Dispute,  Dialogue  of  the  humorous 
kind,  a  sylogistic  Dispute,  &  an  English  Oration 
composed  the  exercises  of  the  Bachelors  — 

An  English  Oration  on  the  rise,  progress  & 
effect  of  Commerce  delivered  by  myself  —  and 
valedictory  oration  by  Mr  Channing  -  -  were  the 
only  exercises  of  the  Masters  -  -  the  Pomp  of  con 
ferring  the  Degrees  made  up  the  deficiency  - 

The  Business  of  ye  Day  was  closed,  with  a  Ball 
in  the  Court-house,  for  which  I  was  one  of  the 
managers  &  help'd  to  distribute  near  800  tickets 
from  which  near  5  hundred  attended  -  -  to  be  sure 
by.  far  the  greatest  collection  I  ever  saw  for  such 
an  occasion,  numbers  were  drawn  by  the  Gentlemen 
to  near  200  -  -  no  pleasure  could  be  taken  from  the 
Dance  -  -  all  was  the  beautiful  sight  of  such  an 
elegant,  &  blooming  Collection  —  the  next  day  — 
gth  was  obliged  to  return  to  the  duties  of  my  Office 

&  examin  the  Candidates  for  the  freshman  Class  — 
waited  on  my  friends  what  time  I  could  spare,  & 
closed  the  Day  with  another  Ball  more  agreeable 
&  by  far  less  crowded  yn  the  other  - 

zoFryday  was   more   at   liberty   to   enjoy   my   friends 

waited  on  some  Ladies  to  the  Library  -  -  &  was 
happy  in  diverting  my  mind  from  the  cares  & 
fatigues  I  had  gone  thro',  by  the  agreeable  chit-chat 
&  the  friendly  attention  due  to  them  .  .  ." 

In  anticipation  of  this  Commencement  he  had  asked  his 
classmate,  Kent,  to  suggest  some  themes  for  discussion  at 
that  time  by  those  proceeding  to  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts.  The  following  was  the  response  in  a  letter  dated  June 
4,  1784: 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  205 

"I  Here  inclose  a  Number  of  Questiones  Magistrates  & 
have  sent  as  many  least  some  may  be  judged  improper  & 
others  may  have  been  heretofore  used.  Should  the  whole 
be  condemned  upon  either  of  those  principles  I  wish  you 
would  insert  one  for  me  and  let  it  be  what  you  please/' 

The  master's  oration  which  Mr.  Baldwin  pronounced 
showed  considerable  thought  and  study.  A  few  extracts 
from  it  are  worth  quotation. 

"We  set  out  with  that  knowledge  of  mercantile  improve 
ments  which  the  experience  of  many  Ages  has  acquired  and, 
such  an  extensive  country  runing  thro'  such  a  variety  of 
Climates,  proper  for  the  production  of  almost  evry  thing; 
our  extensive  Boundaries  by  an  Ocean  opning  to  the  world; 
joined  to  the  natural  fertility  of  our  Soil  &  the  inexhaustable 
resources  in  the  mineral,  animal  &  vegitable  productions; 
are  advantages  not  equaled  in  any  Nation  on  Earth.  Our 
country  is  sufficiently  extensive  -  -  'tis  extremely  fertile ;  has 
an  internal  Navy  wh  is  unparalleld,  &  opens  to  the  world  — 

The  necessaries  of  Life  are  from  within  ourselves  so  easily 
procured,  and  the  liberal  Profusion  of  those  Articles  proper 
for  remitance  so  great,  that  the  voice  of  Nature  seems  to 
accompany  the  Dictates  of  policy  to  make  use  of  our  advan 
tages  for  Commerce  to  a  certain  Degree,  that  we  may  minis 
ter  to  the  calls  of  a  refined  Tast,  &  increase  the  power  & 
riches  of  the  Nation.  -  -  Yet  it  is  a  question  whether  these 
alluring  Prospects  have  not  hitherto  led  us  a  career  too  rapid 
for  our  real  finances  or  our  stage  of  society,  for,  it  must  be 
considered  that  'tis  not  greatness  of  Trade  that  will  increase 
the  riches  of  a  Nation  if  the  Ballance  be  against  it."  .  .  . 

"During  the  continuance  of  the  war  our  Trade  being  inter 
rupted;  our  former  Exports  were  in  general  useless  among 
ourselves,  could  not  be  carried  abroad,  &  of  course  were  not 
cultivated  or  prepared  —  The  return  of  Peace  could  not 
bring  them  in  a  moment  to  their  former  channel  -  -  while  a 
general  consumption  of  the  merchandize  which  was  on  hand 
at  the  commencement  of  the  war.  &  a  more  luxurious  Tast 
which  crept  in  from  our  greater  Intercourse,  increased  our 


206  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

demand  for  foreign  goods.  This  has  caused  that  surprizing 
torrent  of  Silver,  which  has  rolled  across  the  Atlantic  to  make 
even  small  payments  for  the  vast  quantities  of  Goods  which 
the  States  have  received  —  This  remittance  must  be  self 
annihilated,  and  a  Dilemma  follow  which  threatens  Bank 
ruptcy  to  many  of  the  Merchants  both  of  America  &  those 
of  the  European  Nations  with  whom  they  traded  -  Is  it 
not  bad  policy  to  encourage  general  importation,  &  pay  no 
attention  to  our  Exports  which  certainly  ought  more  par 
ticularly  to  be  encouraged." 

"It  does  not  require  the  warmth  of  Enthusiasm  to  paint 
the  glorious  Prospect,  of  this  American  Empire  rising,  by  the 
Effects  of  her  Commerce,  which  must  be  her  great  resource, 
to  the  height  of  earthly  glory  &  the  grandeur  of  millennian 
splendour." 

"No  Nation  on  Earth  ever  set  out  with  such  glorious 
prospects  before  it,  as  the  union  of  America.  All  the  influ 
ential  natural  causes  seem  to  indicate  this,  that  we  shall  eer 
long  become  the  general  mart  for  mercantile  Nations  &  the 
great  store  house  of  the  world.  Our  extensive  Commerce 
if  properly  regulated  must  in  future  add  riches,  splendour  & 
Dignity  to  the  Nation.  And  while  our  population  and  com 
mercial  Labours  increase  our  internal  power.  -  -  the  men 
which  our  Trade  enures  to  the  sea,  &  the  forest  of  shiping 
with  which  our  harbours  will  be  crowded,  will  give  us  not 
merely  respectability,  but  Empire  upon  the  Ocean,  till  the 
superior  Policy  of  refined  Nations  shall  bring  to  an  end  the 
Convulsions  which  distract  the  Empires  of  the  world." 

Three  days  after  Commencement,  Mr.  Baldwin  and  the 
senior  tutor,  Matthew  T.  Russell,  set  off  on  horseback  for  a 
trip  of  pleasure  to  Newport,  Boston,  and  New  Hampshire. 
They  carried  for  delivery  Yale  diplomas  for  doctorates  in 
laws,  which  had  been  granted  the  year  before,  to  M.  Le 
Tombe,  Consul-General  of  France  at  Boston,  and  Count 
Francesco  Dal  Verme  of  Milan.17 


17 


Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  137. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


207 


The  Journal  thus  records  the  incidents  of  the  journey. 


N  Haven 
Saturday 
ii  Sept 
1784 


12 


Come  to  a  conclusion  of  a  long  proposed  plan  of 
traveling  eastward  with  Mr  Russell  —  we  commu 
nicated  it  to  the  President  —  it  met  with  his 
approbation  -  He  politely  offered  us  Letters  of 
introduction  to  his  friends  -  -  &  went  immediately 
to  writing  &  preparing  a  Diploma  for  the  french 
Consul  General  in  Boston  —  Le  Tombe  we  also 
obtained  Letters  from  Mr  Fitch  &  took  leave  of  our 
friends  &  left  Nhaven  by  3  o  Clock,  arrived  at 
Middletown  about  9.  Slept  with  Mr  Russell  at  his 
Uncle's  -  -  the  next  day  went  to  meeting  —  heard 
a  Mr  Marsh  preach  from  the  miracle  wroght  on 
the  Man  with  the  withered  Hand  —  I  liked  his 
sermon  pretty  well  &  his  method  of  handling  the 
Subject  —  after  Tea  walked  to  the  beautiful  Grove 
&  Seat  of  Capt  Mortimer  —  think  I  never  saw  one 
of  the  kind  which  pleased  me  more  -  -  he  is  an 
agreeable  Man,  &  seems  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of  his 
labour.  —  we  soon  after  joined  a  Circle  of  Ladies. 
I  walked  with  a  Miss  Sage  who  was  very  chatty  & 
sensible  &  agreeable  —  &  a  Miss  Hosmer  with 
whom  I  could  not  form  an  acquaintance  —  at  9 

0  Clock  escorted  them  home  &  retired  to  rest 

Sat  out  alone  for  Norwich,  dined  at  Tainters 
&  without  any  accident  arrived  at  home18  about 
Sunset  --  friends  were  all  well  as  usual.  The  next 
day  I  spent  at  home  &  the 

I  went  into  Town,  saw  my  friends,  took  Tea  at  Dr 
Rogers  -  -  heard  a  singular  private  story  —  which 

1  shall  note  when  I  come  to  it     .     .     spent  the  day 
following    without    any    remarkable    transaction, 
Took  Tea  at  Mr  Barritt's. 

It  rained,  but  I  walked  home;   conversed  in  the     17*18. 
Evening  with  my  hond  father  on  religious   Sub 
jects  — 

18  His   "house,"  that  is,  his  father's  residence  was  now  on  his  farm 
at  Yantic,  a  mile  or  two  from  Bean  Hill. 


Monday 
Sept.  13 


rednesday, 


2o8  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

Sabbath  Was  at  Meeting  in  Bozra  —  in  the  Evening  there 

was  a  Conference  at  our  house  -  After  singing 
&  praying  I  read  a  very  suitable  Sermon  --we  then 
conversed  a  little  -  -  sung  the  Evening  Hymn  &  the 
meeting  was  closed  with  Prayer  -  the  Day  fol 
lowing  I  busied  myself  in  looking  over  writings  of 
my  Brother's,  till  Mr  Russell  came  in  the  Evening 
&  tarried  with  me  &  agreed  upon  a  plan  for  our 
journey  - 

Norwich          Mr  Russell  went  into  Town.     I  spent  milch  of  the 

Tuesday  ^ay  m  conversing  with  my  father,  towards  night 
rode  into  Town  to  be  early  on  my  journey  to 
morrow  - 

Wednesday  Rose  early,  Breakfasted,  &  called  on  Mr  Russell 
before  he  was  ready  -  -  We  soon  began  our  Jour 
ney  -  I  proposed  that  our  Conversation  be  scien 
tific  .  .  for  Instance  that  on  the  road  to  our 
first  stage,  Grammar  be  the  subject.  Rhetoric, 
Logic,  Geography  be  each  in  their  turn  another  - 
Mr  Russell  liked  the  proposal  in  part  -  -  he  would 
have  the  circle  of  sciences  be  a  part  of  our  conver 
sation  but  not  when  riding,  as  he  tho't  the  obser 
vations  made  on  the  soil,  Landscapes  &  situations 
of  ye  Country  would  be  more  instructing.  I  agreed 
with  him  that  where  any  thing  uncommon  presented 
itself  it  would,  but  that  a  rout  thro'  the  woods  in 
general  afforded  but  little  entertainment  of  that 
kind  -  -  we  altercated  the  matter  for  some  time  & 
finally  agreed  that  the  first  stage  should  be  entirely 
upon  the  Country,  the  next  on  Grammar,  inter 
spersed  as  the  circumstances  allowed.  A  com 
parison  should  then  be  made  — 

Thus  we  rode  to  Plainfield,  the  soil  in  Newent 
was  in  general  good,  a  number  of  wealthy  setlers 
were  dispersed  along  the  road  —  between  that  & 
Plainfield  the  Land  was  not  so  good  —  We  fed 
our  horses  at  Etons,  visited  Mr  Merwin  to  get  what 
information  we  could  of  the  state  of  the  Academy, 
found  it  not  so  flourishing  as  we  expected;  the 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  209 

resignation  of  Mr  Pemberton  gave  at  least  a  tem 
porary  blow  —  Mr  Pemberton  was  not  at  home: 
we  left  our  Names  &  Compliments  — 

Took  our  horses  &  rode  over  a  most  barren  soil 
to  Dawrances  in  Volentown,  where  we  dined;  tis 
a  good  tavern  &  appeared  to  be  the  only  one 
possessed  of  a  good  farm  in  Volentown  -  -  twas  a 
most  miserable  Country  of  Land  from  this  thro' 
the  greatest  part  of  Coventry,  we  made  a  stage  at 
Watermans,  the  soil  a  little  better,  till  night  pre 
vented  our  observations  -  -  after  which  we  passed 
through  a  pretty  little  place  called  the  Fulling-Mill 
about  three  miles  from  Greenwich  where  we  took 
lodgings  at  Col.  Arnolds  Tavern  -  -  found  the  place 
far  exceed  our  expectations. 

Inspected  the  Horses,  found  that  Mr  Russells  was  Thursday 
unable  to  perform  our  Journey  by  reason  of  a  lame-  23 
ness,  occasioned  by  a  fall  the  Day  before  in  which 
he  maimed  the  wrist  &  knee  of  Mr  Russell  &  his 
own  shoulder.  The  Farrier  was  of  opinion  He 
might  be  well  in  the  course  of  a  week  —  We  took 
Breakfast  &  walked  round  the  Town  &  then  to 
Govr  Greens19  -  -  his  son  was  absent.  Miss  Celia 
his  daughter  was  happy  to  see  us  &  Introduced  us 
to  her  Worthy  &  Amiable  Mama  —  &  to  Col.  Ward 
her  brother  in  Law  -  he  was  a  sensible  &  agree 
able  Man  -  We  concluded  'twas  best  to  leave  our 
Horses  in  that  place  --  &  take  the  packet  for  New 
port  —  Col.  Ward  walked  with  us  to  the  water, 
we  found  there  was  no  boat  going  till  the  Morrow 

—  We  returned  to  Govr  Greens  &  Dined  —  the  Govr 
then  came  in  &  we  were  introduced  to  him  -      He  is 
a  very  plain  but  sensible  Man  —  Says  not  a  great 
deal      After  dinner  it  began  to  rain  &  continued 
all  the  Afternoon  which  prevented  our  going  out 

—  they  desir'd  us  to  tarry  there  the  Night     We 
attempted  to  excuse  ourselves  from  troubling  them 

19  Wm.  Greene  was  then  Governor  of  Rhode  Island. 


2  io  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

by  saying  we  must  go  down  &  see  about  our  horses 
&  especially  the  lame  one  —  we  were  informed 
they  were  in  their  Pasture  &  so  we  tarried,  In  the 
Night  young  Mr  Green  came  home.  We  were  very 
happy  in  seeing  &  conversing  with  him.  The  morn 
ing  was  spent  in  a  variety  of  occupations  &  walking 
about  the  farm. 

Greenwich  About  io  o  Clock  we  took  our  leave  for  Newport. 
I  may  make  this  reflection  that  the  Govr  &  his  Lady 
are  exceeding  hospitable,  kind,  sensible  &  plain  - 
that  Col.  Ward  is  a  worthy  Man  -  -  that  Miss  Celia 
appears  much  better  &  more  amiable  at  home  than 
abroad  -  -  the  seat  which  is  more  convenient  than 
elegant  is  about  y2  a  mile  from  the  town  street  of 
Greenwich  — 

The  boat  on  which  we  embarked  was  about  17 
tons  burthen,  the  Hold  full  of  Cyder  &  the  Deck 
of  rails  for  fences  -  -  so  that  evry  thing  was  incon 
venient  for  passengers  &  made  more  so  by  our  Num 
ber,  which  was   18,  among  which  was  young  Mr 
Green  &  a  Mr  Wonton,  with  a  most  amiable  young 
Lady  Miss  Lucy  Sheffield  &  two  or  three  other 
females.     The  wind  was  contrary  &  small,  so  that 
we  moved  very  slow  -  -  but  amused  ourselves  with 
the  agreeable  prospect  of  the  adjacent  Country  & 
Islands.     Prudence  is  a  small  Island  of  about  100 
Acres.      Patience  is  several  miles  in  Length,  ex 
tremely  fertile,  makes  many  excellent  farms,  but 
no  trees  -      before  we  arrived  at  Gould  Island  —  a 
thick  fog  prevented  our  prospect  -  -  wind  still  con- 
In  Boat       trary  —  &  Night  overtook  us  -  -  the  mist  drove  all 
to  the  little  Cabbin  —  which  was  almost  full  of 
Chests  &  baggage  &  so  exceeding  small  that  all 
could  neither  sit  or  lie  —  &  none  could  stand  --  the 
Air  very  Impure  —  such  a  situation  would  have 
been  intolerable  had  (not)  an  uncommon  flow  of 
Spirits  given  a  peculiar  Life  to  all  who  were  re 
solved  to  make  as  light  of  it  as  possible  —  our  Mirth 
was  much  increased  by  the  impertinent  drollery  of 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  2 1 1 

one  of  the  hands  -  -  to  make  all  worse,  our  Captain 
—  a  blundering  Man,  got  lost.  We  were  obliged 
to  cast  Anchor  till  the  Providence  packet  passed  us 
&  set  him  right  -  we  beat  a  little  farther  &  the 
wind  left  us,  so  that  we  were  at  the  mercy  of  the 
Tide  to  be  carried  back  —  we  must  submit  to  have 
ye  Anchor  cast  again  -  -  the  (re)  we  were  —  be 
nighted,  could  see  nothing  —  had  no  provision  - 
&  could  get  no  sleep  -  -  the  greatest  Happiness  I 
had  was  in  my  seat  by  the  side  of  Miss  Sheffield 
whom  indeed  I  pittied  most  sincerely  -  -  I  tried  to 
make  her  as  happy  as  I  could  —  &  indeed  she  mani 
fested  a  great  flow  of  spirits  till  our  great  fatigue 
almost  overpowered  Nature  -  We  were  thus  con 
fined  on  board  this  dirty  Boat  for  more  than  18 
Hours  —  when  by  the  help  of  some  rowing,  in  which 
I  myself  assisted,  we  had  the  Happiness  to  sit  our  inBoat 
feet  on  one  of  the  wharves  of  Newport  about  5 
o  Clock  in  the  Morning  of  the  26  Sept. 

I  assisted  Miss  Lucy  in  giting  to  the  shore  —  gave     Saturday 
her  a  parting  kiss  with  the  sincerity  of  an  affec-     N  26 
tionate  friend  which  her  virtues,  &  our  partnership 
in  Misfortunes  had  made  us  —    her  Cousin  Wonton 
escorted  her  home  -       Mr  Russel  Mr  Green  &  my 
self  knocked  at  Fry's  tavern,  gained  admittance  & 
retired  to  rest  - 

We  rose  about  8  o  Clock,  took  a  good  Breakfast 
-  got  our  things  from  the  wharf  —  dress'd  & 
walked  about  the  place  -  -  accidentally  found  Mr 
Wonton,  who  politely  accompanied  us  and  led  us 
thro  all  the  principal  streets  of  the  City  -  he  left 
us  when  we  retired  to  diner  —  We  found  there 
were  a  number  of  People  from  Carolina  in  the 
place  for  their  health  -  -  four  of  them  our  fellow- 
Boarders,  one  of  them  a  Mr  Smith  was  a  very 
affable  communicative,  &  well  disposed  person, 
with  him  we  had  the  pleasure  of  forming  some 
acquaintance  the  others  were  not  so  easy  of 
access  — 


2  12 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


Newport 


Sabbath 
27 


Newport 


In  the  Afternoon  we  stept  in  to  Mr  Channing's, 
intending  to  find  Mr  Law  who  boarded  here  &  thus 
get  introduced  to  the  family  -  he  was  absent  - 
but  pretty  convenient  opning  being  made,  we  intro 
duced  ourselves  to  the  old  Lady  -  -  she  pretty  soon 
stept  to  the  other  room  &  communicated  it  to  the 
family  -  a  lad  was  sent  to  invite  us  into  the  room 
where  the  young  Ladies,  Misses  Betsy  &  Nancy, 
were  sitting  we  were  obliged  to  repeat  the  same 
ceremony  to  them  -  -  found  them  both  very  sociable 
&  very  sensible  -  -  of  course  agreeable  —  a  variety 
of  conversation  spent  the  time  till  Tea  .  .  when 
Mr  Law  came  in.  we  were  glad  to  see  a  man  with 
whom  we  had  even  no  more  intimacy  than  we  had 
with  him  -  -  for  unhappily  we  had  omitted  obtain 
ing  Letters  to  Gentlemen  in  Newport,  except  one 
to  Alderman  Warner,  which  we  had  not  yet  deliv 
ered  -  At  dusk  we  returned,  calling  at  the  lodg 
ings  of  Mr  Green  who  was  absent  —  we  soon  retired 
to  rest. 

Thot  as  our  object  was  to  see  what  we  could  of 
the  curious  kind  -  -  we  would  attend  upon  the  meet 
ing  of  the  friends,  an  honest  Quaker  who  was 
standing  at  the  Door  directed  us  to  a  good  seat, 
which  overlookt  the  Assembly  -  A  peculiar  plain 
ness  singularized  the  whole  &  a  universal  silence 
gave  me  leasure  to  observe  -  -  we  sat  for  near  an 
hour  in  profound  silence  when  the  spirit  moved  a 
venerable  Matron  to  open  her  mouth  in  a  few  un 
digested  incoherent  observations,  mostly  uncon 
nected  Texts  of  scripture  -  She  spoke  about  two 
minutes  -  after  a  short  interval  another  speach 
of  equal  length,  from  a  similar  person  closed  the 
solemnities  of  the  worship  of  our  God  —  for  after 
an  other  interval  of  silence  they  shook  hands  rose 
up  &  departed  -  reflections  upon  such  Assemblies 
are  too  natural  to  need  a  place  in  this  Diary 

In  the  afternoon  we  went  to  the  Church,  the 
speaker,  from  Boston  -  -  gave  us  a  most  excellent 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  2 1 3 

Discourse,  &  a  very  splendid  Assembly  composed 
his  Audience  -  Mr  Freebody  with  whom  we  sat 
invited  us  to  Tea,  we  spent  part  of  the  Evening  at 
Mr  C.  Elerys20  -  were  invited  to  come  again  -  -  Mr 
Channing  invited  &  waited  on  us  to  singing  school 
—  we  then  walked  round  the  Town  till  9  o  Clock  & 
retired  - 

Took  Breakfast  at  Cap1  Warners,  a  very  good  Newport 
sociable  Man  -  -  he  invited  us  to  dine,  we  were 
engaged,  to  dine  the  next  day  -  -  we  excused  our 
selves  as  we  expected  to  leave  the  place  .  .  He 
informed  us  of  a  cause  of  some  importance  then 
impending  before  the  Court  -  All  the  capital  Law 
yers  of  the  State  were  employed  --we  were  anxious 
to  hear  them  speak  -  -  we  attended  but  the  parties 
were  persuaded  to  settle  the  matter  -  -  just  as  the 
Jury  were  impanalled.  .  But  as  it  was  a  very 
intricate  Cause  many  of  the  Jurors  were  challenged, 
the  lawyers  all  spoke  of  course,  &  the  merits  of  the 
Cause  were  nearly  adduced. 

I  gave  the  preference  to  Mr  Channing,  the  State 
Atturney  -  -  he  has  a  great  share  of  Life  &  anima 
tion  in  his  speaking,  is  very  candid  &  fair  --  speaks 
a  little  too  quick  -  Varnum  I  had  heard  much 
celebrated,  but  confess  I  was  disappointed  in  him 
Merchant  is  verbose  beyond  measure  &  altogether 
too  fast  -  -  skims  the  surface  &  appears  a  little 
frothy.  Bradford,  hollows  amazingly  -  -  when  he 
gets  warm  &  has  a  blackharding  method  of  satiriz 
ing  his  opponents  which  is  not  commendable. 

Dined  at  Mr  Channings.  had  a  very  handsome 
diner,  &  things  were  conducted  with  much  ease. 
Conversation  was  various  subjects  of  familiar  chit-  Newport 
chat.  Messra  Elery  &  Green  were  with  us.  the 
young  Gentlemen  were  so  kind  as  to  procure  an  in 
vitation  from  the  Comidore  of  the  squadron  of 
f  rench  then  in  the  Harbour,  to  join  a  party  on  board 

20  Hon.  Christopher  Ellery. 


214  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

to  Tea  the  next  day  —  we  could  (not)  overlook  a 
circumstance  which  would  so  much  gratify  our 
Curiosity  -  -  we  anticipated  the  pleasure  in  much 
familiar  Conversation  — 

Mr  Elery  accompanied  us  to  the  steple  of  the 
church  which  is  very  grand  &  gave  a  beautiful 
prospect  of  the  Town  -  -  the  whole  of  this  Edifice 
far  exceed  any  I  ever  saw  -  The  organ  is  the  gift 
of  Dean  Berckley  .  .  we  then  walked  to  see 
the  remains  of  the  Tedwood  Library  —  the  building 
is  really  an  elegant  &  pretty  one  for  its  size  &  stands 
beautifully  .  .,  the  Books  are  more  than  half 
lost  &  poor  attention  paid  to  the  rest  .  .  yet  it 
indicates  the  vallue  &  usefulness  of  the  collection, 
many  fine  books  yet  remain  . 

We  called  in  at  Mr  Elery' s  on  our  return,  he  asked 
us  to  Tea  --we  were  engaged,  but  promised  to  dine 
with  him  the  next  day  -  took  Tea  at  Mr  Chan- 
nings  -  In  the  Evening  went  to  the  singing 
School  - 

Breakfasted  with  Mr  Channing  -  -  states  At- 
turney.  find  him  a  very  agreeable  Man  -  then 
found  by  conversation  with  Mr  Law  that  he  ex 
pected  us  to  dine  at  Cap1  Warners  &  that  he  was 
going  to  accompany  us  -  -  were  a  little  surprised, 
not  thinking  ourselves  under  engagements  or  that 
he  would  expect  us  -  we  were  obliged  to  post  off 
as  fast  as  possible  to  make  all  the  apologies  in  our 
power  —  I  never  was  more  chagrined  at  any  mistake 
in  the  world  -  We  took  a  chaise  &  rode  to  a  place 
called  the  neck  to  see  M"  Stiles  —  the  situation  is 
very  retired,  quite  at  the  south  end  of  the  Island  .  . 
she  came  in  soon  after  us  and  was  at  Diner  with  us 
at  Mr  Elery's;  the  drollery  of  his  brother  Ben  — 
&  the  life  of  Messra  Channing  &  Elery  graced  the 
table  too  .  .  'tis  a  very  easy  &  agreeable  family, 
Miss  Betsey  is  not  handsome  but  very  chatty  .  . 

We  dress'd  &  went  on  Board  the  fleet  about  Sun 
set  —  the  ships  were  most  beautifilly  decorated 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  2 1 5 

with  variety  of  colours  &  flags  in  evry  part,      the 
Com17  into  which  we  went  was  of  80  Guns  — 

Tea  was  provided  in  the  State  room  which  was 
elegant  beyond  my  expectations  —  I  ran  all  over 
the  ship  to  see  what  I  could  —  after  Tea  we  were 
conducted  into  an  elegant  room  made  entirely  of 
hangings  of  Linen  —  &  on  purpose  for  this  occasion 
It  was  made  upon  the  Uper  Deck  under  an 
awning  —  &  so  contrives  as  to  leave  an  Isle  on  each 
side  of  about  5  feet  -  -  both  sides  of  which  were  of  On  board 
clean  cloth  -  the  room  was  large  enough  for 
about  20  Couple  to  dance  &  others  sit  round 
upon  each  end  were  two  arched  entries  &  on  the 
sides  large  arched  window  spaces  opning  to  the 
Isles  .  .  the  edges  of  whh  were  painted  red  — 
the  sides  to  the  windows  a  dark  brown  above  &  the 
top  white  -  -  &  on  evry  part  for  cornices  &  case 
ments  —  vines  of  green  boghs  of  various  kinds  most 
beautifully  arranged  —  a  Large  Lanthorn  of  about 
3  feet  square  with  5  Candles  curiously  ornamented 
with  boughs  Vines  &  Oranges,  was  suspended  from 
the  Centre  of  the  room  &  twelve  others  in  different 
parts  of  the  same  room  &  a  suitable  number  in  the 
isles  -  Here  they  danced  in  a  pretty  confused 
irregular  manner  till  no  Clock  when  all  were 
invited  to  a  spacious  room  below  to  sup  —  the 
Ladies  45  in  Number  sat  round  the  table  with  the 
Comidore  at  the  head  -  twas  ornamented  with 
an  innumerable  number  of  Dishes  of  various  kinds 
some  eatable,  others  made  only  to  feast  the  Eye  — 
the  Gentlemen  had  an  other  Table  in  the  State  room 
&  catched  what  they  could  find  —  both  there  &  in 
the  room  with  the  Ladies  as  many  as  could  be  con 
tained  -  After  supper  all  were  invited  to  the  open 
Deck  to  see  a  very  beautiful  display  of  fireworks 
from  boats  at  a  suitable  Distance  —  they  then 
returned  to  the  Dancing  room  —  'till  they  chose 
to  retire,  when  they  were  conducted  back  as  they 
came  in  the  barges  belonging  to  the  several  ships  — 


2 1 6  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  Politeness  &  the  atten 
tion  of  the  officers  -  -  or  their  apparent  desire  & 
endeavour  to  please  -  the  Conf  stood  at  the  en 
trance  &  received  evry  Lady  as  they  came  on  board. 
I  returned  about  two  in  the  morning  much  pleased 
with  what  I  saw  —  the  day  was  incomparably  fine 
&  evry  thing,  conspired  to  make  us  happy  but  the 
confusion  attending  a  crowd  —  especially  of  dif 
ferent  Companies,  whose  manners  cannot  be  so 
easily  assimilated.  — 

29th  Sept.          Rose  by  six  o  Clock  &  gratified  my  Curiosity  to 

Wednesday  gee  ^  ceiebrated  Molbourn  Gardens  &  the  remains 

of  the  Grandest  dwelling  House  in  New  England 

-  all  was  going  to  decay  --  apparently  wanting  the 
superintendence  of  a  wealthy  &  tasty  owner  -  -  re 
turned  to  breakfast.     Went  &  took  my  leave  of  Mr 
Channings  family  -  -  and  amused  myself  in  various 
ways,  'till  after  diner,  which  we  took  at  Fry's  -      we 

Newport  were  invited  to  Mr  Teisons,  but  excused  ourselves, 
because  we  expected  to  leave  the  place  before  diner 
—  took  a  french  leave  of  most  of  our  friends  & 
sailled  about  y2  past  3,  after  spending  near  5  days 
in  the  most  agreeable  Maner  -  had  the  pleasure 
of  making  much  agreeable  acquaintance  &  receiv 
ing  the  polite  attention  of  a  very  hospitable  people 

-  had  a  most  agreeable  sail  to  Providence  on  board 
the  packet  in  company  with  Mrs  Stiles  &  her  Sister 
.    .    the  prospect  was  fine  &  the  passage  pleasing  - 

Providence  Took  lodgings  at  Mr  Rices  —  breakfasted  by 
ay  invitation  at  Mr  Hitchcocks.  he  was  very  polite  & 
attentive  to  us  —  accompanied  us  to  the  College; 
introduced  us  to  the  President  Manning  —  &  I  must 
confess  I  was  disappointed  the  wrong  way.  he  did 
not  appear  to  be  a  man  of  that  Dignity  —  that  uni 
versal  Literature  —  or  Ease  of  Maners  which  I 
think  ought  to  accompany  a  man  in  his  station,  the 
College  stands  finely  &  is  elegant,  but  after  the  form 
of  New  Jersey  —  the  Chapel  is  very  small  suited  to 
no  audience  but  scholars  —  the  Library  was  small 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


217 


but  exceeded  my  expectations  —  some  good  Books 
belonged  to  it  —  &  a  Donation  of  14  Hundred  Vol-  Providence 
lumns  was  expected  from  Mr  Brown  —  he  had  just 
before  given  them  a  very  good  Air-pump  -  -  but 
smaller  than  ours  at  Newhaven  —  They  had  2  setts 
of  Globes  &  the  remains  of  an  electric  machine 
which  might  be  repaired.  -  A  Telescope,  Theo 
dolite  &c  .  . 

Dined  at  Mr  Hitchcocks  by  invitation.  was 
happy  in  the  presence  of  Dr  Moyes  the  celebrated 
blind  Philosopher  -  -  who  is  exhibiting  a  course  of 
Lectures  on  the  various  branches  of  Philosophy  — 
he  obtained  his  knowledge  by  the  reading  of  his 
servant,  who  constantly  accompanies  him  -  he  re 
sided  at  the  University  of  Glascow  -  -  is  acquainted 
with  the  course  of  a  University  Education  &  has 
gone  thro'  it  himself  -  -  but  his  Genius  is  peculiarly 
adapted  to  philosophic  inquiries  —  in  which  from 
his  conversation  twas  evident  he  had  made  deep 
researches  -  I  conversed  with  him  about  deliver 
ing  a  course  of  Lectures  at  Newhaven  -  -  he  gave 
encouragement  of  coming  in  about  8  weeks  -  -  in 
vited  us  to  attend  his  Lecture  the  next  Evening  .  . 

Took  Tea  at  Capt  Aliens,  a  very  good  &  hospit 
able  man,  after  receiving  the  most  polite  treatment 
&  particular  Attention  from  Mr  Hitchcock  - 

After  Breakfast  walked  about  the  place  without 
any  particular  Company  -  -  but  fell  in  with  several 
that  we  knew  -  Gov  Bowen  call'd  to  us  &  invited 
us  to  dine  the  next  day  -  we  visited  Mr  D  Cook 
he  looks  very  tattered  in  his  Dress  -  -  has  lost  much 
of  his  Life  &  Activity  -  thro'  want  of  business 
from  a  too  early  marriage  —  Dined  at  our  Lodg 
ings  with  a  Gen.  Miller  who  carried  about  an 
amazing  Load  of  mortality  &  a  very  droll  Judge, 
somebody  -  -  an  honest  farmer  —  Conversation 
was  upon  Agriculture,  Commerce  &  the  resources 
of  the  Country. 

After  walking  about  Town  we  called  on  Governor 


Oct.  i,  1784 
Fryday 


2 1 8  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

Sessions,21  the  old  Gentlemen  was  very  sociable 
&  hospitable  —  his  daughters  good  girls  but  not 
handsome  or  used  to  company  —  he  urged  us  to 
Tea  we  were  engaged  —  took  a  Glass  of  wine  & 
engaged  to  take  Tea  the  next  day  —  walked  then  to 
the  College  &  took  Tea,  with  a  certain  Mr  Wilkison 
who  keeps  school  in  a  room  of  the  College  &  lives 
in  the  other  —  he  will  never  do  injury  if  he  can 
help  it  -  -  returned  to  the  lecture  of  Dr  Moyes,  to 
which  he  had  politely  sent  us  Tickets  without  pay  - 
he  made  many  apologies  for  so  dry  a  subject  -  -  it 
was  his  i  Ith  Lect.  &  upon  Alculies,  Acids,  Salts  &c. 

Providence  he  appears  to  understand  his  subject  with  clearness 
-  cloaths  his  Ideas  in  good  language  &  clear,  but 
has  not  the  graces  of  a  good  delivery  —  he  closed 
with  many  excellent  moral  reflections  - 

0^1784  Af ter  Breakfast  made  a  long  visit  to  ye  Dr  Moyes. 
Conversed  with  him  on  many  subjects  -  -  he  ap 
peared  to  understand  ym  accurately:  if  not  would 
candidly  confess  he  had  not  attended  to  them  — 
wrote  a  line  to  Mr  Green  to  excuse  our  not  calling 
on  him  &  desiring  our  horses  —  sent  it  by  a  Boy  — 
caird  on  Mr  Allen  he  was  out  -  -  dined  at  Gov 
Bowens  with  M™  Stiles  her  Sister  Mr  &  Mra 
Hitchcock  —  conversation  on  your  little  matters 
which  were  not  very  important  -  I  might  have 
also  mentioned  that  Dr  Moyes  was  present  -  -  he 
after  diner  played  very  beautifully  on  the  Harpsi- 
cord  —  in  concert  with  his  own  voice  &  that  of  a 
pretty  young  Lady  who  came  in  to  walk  with  the 
Dr  —  which  she  did  in  such  a  maner  y*  few  would 
mistrust  his  blindness  — 

We  tarried  till  about  4  —  and  took  Tea  at  Gov. 
Sessions  —  the  time  we  spent  with  him  was  very 
improving  —  he  gave  us  a  historic  account  of  the 
rise  &  finances  of  Providence  College  —  it  seems  it 

21  Darius  Sessions  (Yale,  Class  of  1737),  who  had  been  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  Rhode  Island. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


219 


was  set  on  foot  by  Dr  Stiles,  thro'  his  zeal  for 
academic  &  catholic  Literature,  but  his  plan  was 
overruled  by  the  superior  Number  of  the  Baptists  — 

We  returned  to  our  Lodgings  &  found  an  agree 
able  stageload  of  passengers  from  Boston  —  among 
others  Maj.  Sumner  with  him  I  made  an 

acquaintance  directly  -  -  &  with  an  agreeable  Mr 
Russell  from  Boston,  who  politely  gave  us  a  Letter 
to  his  brother,  the  next  morning  —  we  supt  together 
&  spent  the  time  agreeably  .  . 

Viewed  our  horses  -  -  they  appeared  very  well  & 
not  lame  -  In  the  morning  went  to  the  Baptist 
meeting,  designing  to  hear  Mr  Manning  —  were 
disappointed  -  -  a  Mr  Pitman  preached  a  sermon 
from  which  answered  the  description  of  the 

Irishmans  owl  -  -  vox  et  prat  ere  a  nihil  -  In  the 
af  terpart  of  the  Day  -  -  heard  Mr  Hitchcock  deliver 
a  very  good,  well  digested,  discourse  upon  the 
excellence  &  propriety  of  the  Christian  religion  — 
went  home  with  him  &  took  Tea  --  spent  the  after 
noon  in  a  variety  of  agreeable  conversation  upon 
various  subjects  -  -  he  is  very  humorous,  not  at  all 
bigoted  -  -  perhaps  a  little  too  loose  in  his  pro 
fessions  of  Liberality  of  Sentiment  -  took  my 
leave  of  him  &  family  -  -  thank'd  him  for  his  polite 
attention,  did  the  same  to  gov.  Bowen  &  spent  a 
good  part  of  the  Evening  with  Maj.  Allen  -  -  went 
home  &  was  highly  entertained  for  an  hour  by  Dr 
Moyes  -  he  would  be  pretty  good,  we  found,  in 
his  demands  from  College  -  -  but  chose  that  ye  the 
people  of  Town  should  be  on  the  same  footing  as 
in  other  places  - 

prepared  for  our  Journey 

Rained  till  7  o  Clock.  we  underwent  all  the 
disagreeables  of  a  disappointment  &  we  had  already 
spent  more  time  than  we  intended,  or  could  do  to 
advantage  -  -  Our  Conscience  convicted  us  -  -  but 
it  stopt  about  7  &  we  set  our  Journey,  found  the 
land  very  poor  on  the  way  to  Petuxet  village  &  but 


Providence 


Sabbath. 
Oc.  3d.  . 


Monday 
Oct  4. 1784 


220  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

little  better  to  Daggetts  in  Attleborough,  where  we 
were  happy  in  seeing  his  son  David22  -       he  gave 
us  a  good  Breakfast  &  was  very  polite  -       we  then 
passed  through  a  very  pretty  Town  call'd  Wrenthan 
&  dined  in  Walpole ;  had  a  good  diner  at  Daggetts 
Tavern  -  -  our  next  stage  was  in  dedham  &  with 
out  fright  or  accident  we  went  on  to  Roxbury  - 
rightly  named  but  a  much  prettier  Town  than  I 
expected  -  -  we  pass'd  over  the  neck  after  dark  - 
which  was  very  disagreeable  from  a  very  severe 
Ocf  wind  -  -  we  were  happy  in  throwing  ourselves 
into  the  Arms  of  hospitality  at  Mr  Grays  - 
S°nd0n  Took  a  walk  before  Breakfast  to  the  long  wharf 

Oct  5*1784  -  found  it  a  most  curious  &  noble  work  of  near  ^4 
of  a  mile  in  length  -  -  built  mostly  of  stone  &  very 
wide  -  -  After  Breakfast  we  call'd  on  Mr  Russel  - 
merchant,  he  very  politely  gave  us  an  invitation  to 
Diner  -  -  we  accepted  it  -  -  Mr  Clark  Mr  Hubbard 
&  Dr  Dexter  were  absent  -  -  we  delivered  our  Let 
ters  &  a  diploma  to  Mr  La  Tombe  the  f rench  Consul 

—  he  invited  us  to  dine  with  him  on  our  return  — 
After  seeing  what  we  could  of  the  Town,  &  get- 

ing  what  information  we  could  respecting  ye  streets 

—  -  in  which  I  had  the  opportunity  to  gratify  my 
Curiosity  in  descending  into  a  Tomb  just  opned. 
two  of  the  Coffins  were  open,  which  gave  a  striking 
specimen  of  Man  returning  to  his  Dust.     We  went 
to  Mr  Russells  &  dined  -  -  his  wife  is  a  very  dressy 
woman  &  easy  &  pretty.     In  our  next  walk  we  fell 
in  company  with  Mr  Shipman23  from  N.  Haven  - 
he  went  with  us  to  most  of  the  Distinguished  places. 
Beacon  Hill  afforded  a  most  beautiful  Prospect  of 
evry  pfc  of  the  Town  -      We  took  Tea  at  Mr  Guilds 

—  spent  part  of  the  Evening  at  Mr  Hubbards  & 
the  remainder  at  Mr  Clarks  a  most  agreeable  & 
accomplished  Clergyman  —  he  introduced  us  to  an 

22  David  Daggett  (Yale,  Class  of  1783). 

23  Elias  Shipman. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


221 


Wednesday 
Oct.  0* 


agreeable  Circle  then  present  -   -  and  offered  us     Boston 
Letters  in  the  morning  for  Cambridge  - 

Took  a  walk  to  see  what  of  the  Town  I  could 
before  Breakfast  -  -  after  which  I  took  my  horse 
calFd  on  Mr  Clark  took  his  Letters  &  rode  round 
by  Roxbury  to  Cambridge;  put  our  Horses  at 
Bradishes  -  -  changed  dress  &  walked  into  College 

-  young  Mr  Russell  walked  with  us  to  the  Chamber 
of  Mr  Hale,24  a  very  accomplished  &  polite  Tutor, 
we  dined  with  the  Circle,  found  the  maners  of  their 
Hall  much  similar  to  our  own,  except  the  custom  of 
waring  Hatts  -  -  we  took  Wine  at  Mr  Hales  -  -  at 
tended  the  Lecture  of  professor  Williams,25  neither 
the  delivery  or  the  matter  exceeded  my  expecta 
tions  -  -  he  led  us  into  the  philosophy  Chamber 
where  we  viewed  their  elegant  paintings  -  -  &  into 
the  apparatus  room  -  -  which  certainly  was  exceed 
ing  elegant,  costly,  various  &  useful  .  .  then 
into  the  Museums  &  rooms  replete  with  a  great 
variety  of  the  curiosities  of  Art  &  nature  -  -  the 
Library  was  distinct  from  these,  the  apartment  was 
elegant  -  -  the  distribution  discovered  great  tast  & 
the  number  of  Vol.  about  11,000  most  of  ym  ele 
gantly  bound  lettered  &  guilt 

Mr  Williams  took  us  to  his  house  &  shewed  us 
the  remainder  of  the  Instruments  for  Astronomy  — 
exhibited  some  little  experiments  &c  .  .  . 

Took  Tea  with  Mr  Tutor  Howard,26  &  spent  the 
Evening  agreeably  there  with  a  round  of  sociable 
Company  -  -  as  we  divided  into  the  smaller  Circles 
—  my  companion  was  the  professor  —  I  slept  with 
Mr  Hale  — 

Took  an  early  walk  to  see  the  place;  tis  pretty, 
but  not  very  delightful.  I  went  to  a  beautiful 
Summer  house  of  Mr  Tracy's,  came  back  &  break- 

24  John  Hale  (Harvard,  Class  of  1779). 

25  Samuel  Williams  (Harvard,  Class  of  1780). 

26  Rev.  Bezaleel  Howard,  D.D.  (Harvard,  Class  of  1781). 


Cambridge 


Thursday 
Oct.  7 


222  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

fasted  Mr  Librarian  Winthrop,27  a  clever,  sociable, 
Laughing,  good  natured  Man  —  waited  on  the 
President,28  gave  him  my  Letter  from  Mr  Clark  — 
took  some  from  him  to  Portsmouth  —  &  tarried  but 
a  few  minutes,  took  our  leave  of  the  Circle  -  -  & 
dined  among  the  rocks  &  shoemaker  shops  of  Lyn 
—  went  into  one  of  the  shops  (of  which  there  are 
150)  to  see  ye  manufactory  -  -  were  informed  that 
Medford  or  Mystic  a  pretty  Town  a  little  back 
was  equally  famous  for  a  manufactory  of  brick  - 
much  of  their  common  wall  was  made  of  them  .  . 
After  diner  &  paying  extravagantly  for  it  we 
travelled  thro'  several  little  settlements  tho'  little 
good  Land,  till  we  came  to  Marblehead  a  town  of 
about  4  or  500  houses  on  the  sure  foundation  of  a 
rock  -  -  they  a  (re)  famous  for  the  curing  of  Cod. 
The  people  are  savage  in  their  nature  &  education 

-  are  very  poor  in  general  -  -  amazingly  prolific  & 
exceed  all  places  in  the  habit  of  begging,    one  can 
hardly  ride  thro'  the  Town  without  being  accosted 
in  that  way  by  one  half  the  old  women  &  children  in 
it.     We  viewed  the  crates,  got  what  information  we 
could  &  rode  round  to  Salem  -       put  our  horses  & 
lodged  at  Col.  Bacons,  after  delivering  our  Letters 
&  suping  with  Mr  Gibbs29  -  -  he  is  a  very  kind  hos 
pitable  Man:    says  not  a  great  deal,  but  appears 
clever  -      M"  Gibs  answers  the  same  description  —  - 
She  does  not  half  so  much  resemble  the  Prescot 
family,  at  N  Haven  as  her  sister  Goodoo,30  she  was 
present  -       I  gave  her  the  Letter  &  drank  to  her 
as   M"   Gibs,   the   mistake   turned   the   Laugh   on 
me  &c  — 

Fryday  Took  my  morning  walk  as  usual  to  see  the  place 

-  found  the  streets  a  little  irregular  but  the  build 
ings  many  of  them  very  good,  &  the  number,  but  a 

27  James  Winthrop,  LL.D.  (Harvard,  Class  of  1769). 

28  Rev.  Joseph  Willard,  D.D.,  LL.D.  (Harvard,  Class  of  1765). 


29  Henry  Gibbs  (Harvard,  Class  of  1766). 

30  Wife  of  Stephen  Goodhue. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  223 

little  short  of  those  in  Newport  .  .  business  was 
lively  &  good  deal  done  there  —  took  breakfast  at 
Mr  Gibs  —  delivered  a  Letter  to  Miss  Peggy  Me  Key 
a  plain,  good  girl  —  &  another  introductory  to  Mr 
Whetmore  a  Lawyer  —  promised  to  call  on  him 
again,  left  the  Town  in  company  with  Mr  Law  — 
soon  pass'd  the  ferry  to  Beverly  a  place  far  exceed 
ing  my  expectations;  in  short  I  never  had  a  just 
idea  of  the  population  of  this  Country  —  evry  three 
or  4  miles  a  meeting-house  would  present  itself  — 
we  dined  at  Mr  Dana's  a  very  good  Minister  of 
Ipswich  the  Revd  Mr  Frysby  came  there  to  see  us, 
and  we  must  call  on  both  on  our  return  —  our  next  Newbury- 
stop  was  for  a  few  minutes  at  Mr  Bradf ords  &  then  P°rt  J784 
a  variety  of  merry  chit-chat  &  friendly  Disputes 
interspersed  the  variety  of  Landscips  in  our  rapid 
progress  to  Newbury  &  port,  where  we  slept  after 
delivering  a  letter  to  a  very  pretty  Miss  Parsons, 
with  whom  &  her  papa  we  spent  most  of  ye  Evening 
—  Mr  King  to  whom  we  had  Letters  was  absent  — 
we  returned  to  the  Tavern  without  much  new 
acquaintance  — 

Breakfasted  soon  after  rising  —  had  an  invita-  Saturday 
tion  soon  after  to  breakfast  with  Mr  Spring  the 
Clergyman  —  I  went  to  his  house  but  on  my  way 
was  introduced  to  Mr  Nyeall  the  printer  —  went 
into  his  bookstore  -  -  found  a  very  good  collection 
of  5  or  6  hundred  Vollumns  —  took  half  a  second 
breakfast  at  Mr  Springs  found  him  &  his  wife 
both  very  agreeable  -  -  engaged  to  dine  with  them 
on  Monday  —  took  leave  &  rode  to  Almsbury  — 
calFd  on  a  Mr  Bell,  who  was  to  be  setled  there  the 
next  week  —  could  not  get  away  'till  after  diner  — 
was  entertained  with  the  great  exuberance  of  his 
oddities  —  found  fine  road  thro  Hannover  to  our 
last  stage  at  PORTSMOUTH;  put  our  horses  at 
Stavers  about  Sunset,  &  ran  about  to  deliver  our 
Letters  .  .  Mr  Buckminster31  was  absent  — 

31  Rev.  Joseph  Buckminster,  D.D.  (Yale,  Class  of  1770). 


224  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

J.  Pickering  Esq.  was  also  absent  —  a  Letter  to 
Miss  Betsey  Haven  introduced  us  to  her  hond 
father  —  who  was  very  polite  in  his  offers  of  atten- 

Portsmouth.  ^Ollj  ajtho  he  pretended  he  was  not  pleased,  that  the 
President  Stiles  had  not  introduced  us  to  him  - 
took  Tea  at  Mra  Buckminster,  &  engaged  to  dine 
with  her  the  next  day  —  delivered  a  Let  to  Mr  Sheaf, 
engaged  to  Tea  the  next  day 

Sabbath  After  the  common  business  of  the  morning  went 

to  Mr  Buckminsters  -  -  waited  on  young  Miss  B.  & 
to  meeting  -  -  heard  Mr  Evans  a  quondam  chaplain 
-  he  read  the  psalm  very  well  -  -  prayed  method 
ically  &  delivered  his  discourse  pretty  well,  which 
was  much  in  the  declamatory  stile  -  -  dined  with 
Mra  Buckminster,  find  her  a  pretty  -  -  very  sensible, 
accomplished  &  agreeable  Lady  -  -  made  our  ex 
cuses  to  her  -  -  that  we  might  attend  the  meeting  of 
Dr  Haven  -  -  but  when  we  came  to  Mr  Sheafs  a 
Gent,  upon  whom  we  engaged  to  call  —  we  found  he 
preferred  attending  the  preaching  of  Mr  Parker, 
we  hinted  our  wishes  of  going  the  other  way  so  far 
as  politeness  would  permit  -  -  &  were  obliged  to 
accompany  him  &  his  wife  who  looks  well  -  -  to 
hear  this  Parker  a  blacksmith  preaching  with  the 
warmth  of  partizan  the  salvation  of  all  men  —  he 
was  a  Dupe  of  Murry,32  his  equal  in  Art,  but  not  in 
Education  -  Took  Tea  with  Mr  Sheaf  -  -  viewed 
the  Assembly  room  which  was  very  elegant  -  -  at 
tended  a  funeral  at  which  Dr  Haven  made  the 
Address  •  spent  part  of  the  Evening  at  Mr 
Langdons,33  the  Vice  President  of  the  State,  a  very 

Portsmouth  sensible,  hospitable  Man  -  -  he  would  have  us  dine 
with  him  next  day  -  -  twould  have  been  our  happi 
ness  but  we  must  leave  the  Town  —  call'd  on  Dr 
Haven  for  Letters,  were  introduced  by  him  &  a 

32  Rev.  John  Murray,  the  founder  of  the  Universalist  denomination 
in  America. 

33  Hon.  John  Langdon,  LL.D. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  225 

Letter  to  Esq.  Hale  -  -  with  whom  we  are  to  break 
fast  to  morrow  -  After  viewing  the  greater  part 
of  the  Town  in  company  with  young  Mr  Langdon 

-  we  took  breakfast  at  Esq.  Male's  &  about  9     Monday 

0  Clock  were  on  our  horses  for  Salem  -       Ports 
mouth  is  a  Town  of  about  700  Houses  not  equal  to 
Salem  -  -  is  pretty  well  laid  out  in  squares  —  the 
Harbour  exceeding  good  -  -  their  wealth  is  in  the 
lumber  trade  -  -  with  share  in  the  fishery  -       We 
made  but  few  stages,  &  nothing  particular  in  the 
soil  or  prospect  was  inviting  -   -  till  we  came  to 
Newburyport;   this  is  a  place  of  great  Trade,  par 
ticularly  in  fish,  vessels  &  Lumber  —  the  Town  is 
pretty  regular,  perhaps  including  Newbury  about 
600  Houses  -        we  dined  at  Mr  Springs,34  was 
exceedingly  pleased  in  the  acquisition  of  having 
him  &  his  wife  among  the  Circle  of  my  acquaintance 

took  letters  from  Miss  Hannah  Parsons  &  the 
charge  of  a  performance  of  her  Papa's  -  -  in  which 

1  had  a  specimen  of  a  Man  riding  his  Hobby  —     Mr 
Frysby  was  not  at  home  &  we  excused  ourselves 
without  tarrying  at  Mr  Dana's    we  (re)  so  belated 
in  the  Hamlet  of  Ipswich  that  we  put  up  for  the 
night  -  -  altho  we  dipended  on  arriving  at  Salem  — 
Mr  Cutler  was  so  busy  in  some  unavoidable  matters 

-  that  we  could  not  spend  time  with  him  till  the 
next  morning  -  -  when  we  breakfasted  with  him  — 
he  gave  us  a  variety  of  entertainment,  particularly 
an  account  of  his  tour  to  the  White  Mountains  — 
he  accompanied  us  to  Beverly  -  -  and  took  leave 
with  much  politeness 

Crossed  the  ferry  about  no  Clock,     Mr  Whet-     _ 

p   ?L  ,  ,     TT          ;  Tuesday 

more  was  out  of   I  own  —  M    Hopkins  to  whom     Oct.  12. 
by   his    previous   desire    we    introduced    ourselves 
invited  us  to  dine  -      we  paid  our  respects  &  deliver 
our  Letter  to  Mr  Bentley  &  except  his  importunity 
(in  which  he  succeeded)  to  make  us  tarry.    I  have 

34  Rev.  Samuel  Spring  (Princeton,  Class  of  1771). 


226 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


not  found  a  more  agreeable  acquaintance  -  After 
calling  on  Mr  Gibs  &  making  my  excuses  for  not 
being  there  the  last  night,  I  took  their  &  Miss 
Mackey's  Letters,  &  mounted  for  Cambridge  about 
4  o  Clock  -  -  night  overtook  us  —  &  we  lost  our 
road  -  -  but  were  in  College  in  about  3  &  y2  hours 

—  took  Tea  with  Mr  Reed  —  Slept  after  conversing 
Wednesday  late  with  Mr  Howard  —  Attended  morning  prayers, 

J3  took  breakfast  in  the  hall  —  spent  a  part  of  the  fore 
noon  with  Professor  Wigglesworth  &  dined  with 
the  President  —  The  Table  was  very  elegantly 
furnished  —  with  a  rich  variety  -  -  the  Tutors  of 
Harvard  were  with  us  —  Conversation  was  not 
very  lively,  but  on  general  subjects:  the  president 
is  very  reserved,  has  not  the  ease  of  maners  which 
Cambridge  is  visible  in  Dr  Stiles,  yet  there  is  a  dignity  in  his 
deportment  &  a  sensible  look;  he  is  a  worthy  Man 
&  President.  After  taking  leave  of  him  &  smoking 
a  pipe  with  the  Tutors,  we  took  our  leave  of  the 
Circle  &  set  out  for  Boston,  by  the  way  of  Charles- 
town,  saw  the  celebrated  bunker  Hill,  &  the 
vestages  of  the  unhappy  Town  of  Chn,  yet  it  was 
surprisingly  rebuilt  -  we  crossed  the  ferry  &  came 
to  our  old  lodgings  about  sunsetting  -  took  Tea 

—  walked  to  the  consul  La  Tombe;  found  him  agree 
able,  polite  &  attentive     we  took  a  glass  of  wine; 
had  a  little  agreeable  chit-chat  &  took  our  leave  - 
he  expressed  a  wish  to  have  us  dine  with  him,  but 
we  then  thought  of  going  out  of  Town  the  next 
day  — 

After  breakfast  was  visited  by  Mr  Law  &  (a) 
certain  conceited  Dartmouth  scholar  -  -  he  detained 
us  till  10  o  Clock;  took  a  walk  &  fell  in  with  Mr 
Howard,  who  had  called  on  us  —  we  took  a  view 
of  the  Statehouse  —  &  Market,  &  attended  the  usual 
weekly  Lecture,  the  sermon  was  by  Mr  Akely  —  I 
did  not  like  him  in  any  respect  —  after  we  came  out, 
we  stood  as  usual  and  conversed  with  many  of  the 
Clergy;  made  some  engagements;  took  leave  & 


Thursday 
Oct.  14 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 


227 


came  home  —  After  dinner  visited  Mr  Clark;  he 
could  not  be  so  attentive  as  I  really  suppose  so 
benevolent  &  polite  a  Gentleman  wished,  on  account 
of  MM  Clarks  being  newly  in  the  Straw  —  spent  the 
Evening  very  agreeably  at  the  house  of  Mr  Guild, 
with  him,  Judge  Cranch35  &  a  Dr  somebody,  all 
members  of  the  A.  A.  S.  conversation  upon  Agri 
culture,  Philosophy  -  -  &  Trade  - 

After  Breakfast  call'd  on  Mr  Bond,  merchant, 
he  was  very  kind  in  offering  to  walk  with  us  to  the 
market,  the  most  noted  wharves  —  the  Commons, 
the  Bank  equally  agreeable  from  the  strength  of 
ye  place  &  facility  of  doing  business  -  -  he  then  lead 
us  to  beacon  Hill  -  -  the  State  house  -  -  the  court 
house  &  concert  Hall  -  -  we  then  returned  to  his 
house  -  -  took  a  glass  of  wine  —  thank' d  him  for 
his  politeness  -  -  &  went  to  Mr  Lathrops  -  he  & 
his  wife  wrere  agreeable  &  polite  -  -  he  walked  with 
us  to  a  painting  chamber,  kept  by  a  Mr  Savage,36 
where  we  were  entertained  with  a  variety  of  paint 
ing  .  .  in  our  walk  from  thence  we  fell  in  & 
were  introduced  to  Dr  Chauncy  —  spent  half  an 
hour  with  him,  very  sociably  -  -  find  him  a  man  of 
many  oddities  &  much  plainness  &  frankness  - 
We  then  spent  a  few  moments  at  the  house  of  Mr 
Akely  -  -  he  went  with  us  to  his  meeting  house  once 
a  horse  stable  for  the  Brittish,  now  elegantly  re 
paired  -  -  a  fine  prospect  presented  itself  from  the 
steple  -  -  a  curious  anecdote  was  there  told  me  of 
a  boy  who,  on  a  banter,  climbed  up  the  lightning 
rod  -  -  stood  up  on  the  upper  ball  &  turned  the  cock 
&  came  down  as  he  went  up  — 

Dined  with  Mr  Guild  —  Dr  Dexter  &  several  other 
Gentlemen  honoured  the  table  —  which  was  graced 
with  the  presence  of  his  very  amiable  partner  — 
who  presided  &  served  up  the  rich  variety  in  a  very 

35  Richard  Cranch,  father  of  Judge  William  Cranch. 

36  Edward  Savage. 


Boston 


Fryday 
Oct  15. 


Boston 


228  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

handsome  manner  -  A  general  ringing  of  the 
bells  of  Boston  call'd  us  from  table  &  announced  the 
Approach  of  the  Marquiss  La  Fayete  -  -  the  main 
street  was  crowed  with  spectators,  who  were  all 
anxious  to  repeat  the  applause  of  their  country  & 
renew  the  Honours  due  to  so  distinguished  &  heroic 
son  of  Liberty  -  the  Company  of  Cadetts  pre 
ceded  on  foot  -  -  Then  the  Marquiss  &  Gen.  Knox 
between  two  other  Gent  of  distinction  -  the  Con 
sul  La  Tombe  &  several  f  rench  &  American  Officers 
followed  in  carriages  or  on  horses  -  -  with  many 
Gent  of  the  Town  -  -  I  stood  near  the  stump  of  the 
liberty  Tree  -  -  once  so  famous  -  as  soon  as  the 
Marquiss  came  near  the  spot  almost  sacred  to 
Liberty  -  -  he  was  welcomed  by  three  general  cheers 
—  sounds  which  carried  with  them  the  Gratitude  of 
those  who  uttered  them,  a  numerous  crowd  fol 
lowed  him  to  his  lodgings  in  State  street  --  received 
his  thanks  -  -  from  the  walk  over  the  door  -  -  re 
peated  the  huzza's  &  dispersed  -  I  really  felt 
emotions  which  were  peculiarly  animating,  let  the 
cause  be  what  it  would  - 

We  then  took  leave  of  our  friends  &  after  sunset 
rode  to  Dedham  -  -  &  the  next  day     .     .     . 

Saturday         pass'd  thro'  a  variety  of  prospects  to  the  parish 

Oct.  16       of  Thompson  in  Killingly  - 

returning         Was  at  Meeting  in  Thompson    heard  Mr  Russell 

Sabbath       —  spent  the  Evening  there  - 
*'  jg  Sat  out  for  home  —  call'd  at  Dr  Fitch's  of  Canter 

bury  &  introduced  myself  -  -  they  had  heard  of  me 
&  were  very  kind  Indeed  -  -  I  could  not  get  away 
'till  I  made  a  second  Dinner  -  -  found  I  could  pass 
by  Hanover  -  -  the  road  was  bad  &  intricate  -  -  but 
I  wanted  to  visit  my  good  friend  Mr  Perkins,  who 
I  knew  had  had  the  smallpox  -  -  could  not  get  from 
there  till, 

Tuesday          After  Breakfast  I  rode  home ;   found  my  friends 
in  usual  health  —  but  much  concerned  that  I  tarried 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  229 

so  much  longer  than  I  had  at  first  designed  - 
After  making  the  usual  visits  &  compliments  to  them 
I  returned  the  next  Tuesday  to  N  Haven  -  26 

REFLECTIONS  — 

Upon  the  whole  the  Journey  was  very  agreeable 
&  Improving  -  -  &  I  think  the  Vacation  could  not 
have  been  spent  to  greater  advantage  - 

All  Books  &  no  society  will  never  make  the  useful 
or  agreeable  Man  -  neither  will  do  of  themselves 
alone  -  the  Perfection  of  a  good  Education  is  to 
unite  the  excellencies  of  both.  It  is  impossible  that 
by  travelling  alone  a  man  will  acquire  the  first  prin 
ciples  of  any  of  the  more  noble  sciences  which 
expand  the  Soul  -  -  &  it  is  equally  impossible  that 
he  should  enjoy  half  the  pleasure  or  the  utility 
which  might  arise  from  his  travels,  if  he  has  not 
a  foundation  in  these  -  The  first  immediate  effect 
of  travelling  is  that  it  gratifies  our  curiosity  to  see 
new  objects  —  the  next  it  improves  us  in  Geography, 

-  It  enables  us  to  view  things  upon  a  larger  scale 
than  that  which  is  proportioned  to  the  confines  of 
the  little  spot  of  our  nativity  —  It  polishes  off  the 
rust  of  pedantic  maners  &  by  observing  those  of 
different  men  in  different  places,  it  assimulates  our 
manners  with  those  of  the  World  &  ever  enables 
us  to  adapt  them  to  the  company  of  the  Place  we  are 
in  -  -  It  roots  out  those  local  Prejudices  which  are 
so  inimical  to  enterprize  —  independence  of 
thought  or  liberality  of  sentiment  -  It  gives  us 
an  acquaintance  with  the  World  -  -  with  things 
with  Men  &  with  human  Nature  —  &  In  short  it 
the  better  qualifies  us  to  act  the  part  assigned  us 
in  the  grand  play  of  human  Actions  -  -  to  be  of 
course  more  useful  &  active  to  better  purpose,  while 
in  the  Bustle  of  Life,  &  when  in  the  shades  of  re 
tirement,  it  will  increase  the  source  for  peaceful 


2  3O  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

reflections  &  enlarge  the  field  of  that  internal  Hap 
piness  to  which  in  the  close  of  Life  we  ever  wish  to 
resort  — 

N  Haven         On  the  9°*,  io,  ii  &  12th  were  transacted  some 
Nov8i44        matters  within  the  Circle  of  my  friends  which  con 
cerned    me;     but    are   better    entrusted    with    the 
memory  than  with  paper     .     . 

23  By  Invitation  dined  at  Mr  Miles  on  Turtle :  spent 

the  Afternoon  very  merily  &  the  evening  in  Danc 
ing  there  &  at  Mr  Nicols  — 

27  Dined    with    a    number    of    Gentlemen    at    Mr 
Brooms37  --his  Daughter  Betsy  drew  my  Attention 
very  much  - 

28  Dined  at  Dr  Goodrich's  &  took  Tea  at  Mr  Isaac 
Beers'     .     .     . 

Dec  14  Celebrated  the  23  Aniversary  of  my  Nativity  - 

J785  Spent   the   Vacation   in   reading   Law   at   New 

Haven  Blackstone  my  main  object  -  -  boarded  at 
Mr  Townsends 

April  for  the  convenience  of  a  more  general  Attend 

ance  we  determined  the  Classes  this  month  - 

Spent  the  fore  part  of  Vacation  in  Norwich  — 
waited  on  my  Sister  &  little  namesake  Colton38  to 
Somers.  At  Hartford  attended  the  Wedding  of 
Mr  Woolcott39  &  Miss  Stoten  -  -  returned  (to)  the 
business  of  College  July  18.  Attended  the  Exam 
ination  of  the  Candidates  for  Degrees  &  After  a 
long  &  particular  Examination  of  the  71  who  offered 
--  Buckley,  Forgue,  Hull  &  Tomlinson  were  sus 
pended  to  a  second  examination,  by  a  majority  of 
the  1 6  Examiners  who  attended  the  whole  -  the 

37  Samuel  Broome,  a  merchant  who  had  recently  removed  to  New 
Haven  from  New  Jersey. 

38  Simeon  Colton  was  born  January  8,  1785. 

39  Oliver  Wolcott  (Yale,  Class  of  1778)  was  married  June  i,  1785, 
to  Elizabeth  Stoughton. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  231 

others  I  had  the  Honour  to  present  to  the  Presi 
dent- 
Attended  all  Day  upon  a  close  Examination  of  Sept.  i 
the  4  suspended  Candidates  •  found  them  all 
deficient  &  after  much  deliberation,  agreed  not  to 
recommend  them  from  merit;  but  it  being  a  new 
thing  &  of  course  requiring  Caution  we  desired  the 
President  to  recommend  them  to  the  Corporation 
to  have  degrees  speciali  Gratia,  the  Day  After  Com1, 
the  thing  laboured  much  w1  Corporation,  but  was 
finally  voted  — 

After  the  fatigue  of  Examining  the  Classes  &  14. 
the  Candidates  for  Admission  into  College  —  we 
are  this  Day  to  celebrate  the  Aniversary  Com*  of 
this  Year,  the  special  Fireworks  &  other  parade 
preceeded  &  attended  it  —  the  Accademic  Proces 
sion  moved  about  10  o  Clock  —  prayer  by  President 
preceded  the  Exercises  which  were  begun  by  Mr 
Pitkin,  Sal.  Or,  Mr  S.  Perkins  Greek  Or.  Mess. 
Newton  Bidwell,  Rossiter,  &  Wadsworth,  Disputed 
this  Quest.  Are  the  Moral  Dispositions  of  Man 
kind  influenced. 

The  last  entry  in  the  journal  is  that  of  Sept.  14,  1785. 
Since  June  22,  1786,  Mr.  Baldwin  had  been  the  Senior  Tutor, 
and  so  a  kind  of  Dean  of  the  Faculty.  He  had  been  a  busy 
man  before :  he  was  busier  now. 

He  wrote  to  his  sister  Bethiah,  on  July  23,  1784: 

"You  may  perhaps  wonder  Sister  Bethiah  -  -  that  I  am 
no  more  faithfull  to  the  duties  of  y*  Correspondence  in 
which  I  possess  &  really  enjoy  so  much  pleasure  —  But  if 
you  knew  the  busy  Life  in  which  I  am  involved  -  -  you  would 
not  be  surprised  that  I  write  so  seldom  but  rather  that  I  write 
so  frequent  - 

We  are  all  particularly  busy  this  summer  &  shall  be  so  'till 
Commencement. 

I  now  steal  a  short  moment,  but  expect  the  Bell  will  sum- 


232  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

mon  evry  minute  -  ....  "I  may  spend  a  part  of 
the  Vacation  at  Norwich  or  riding  Eastward.  —  I  am  too 
undetermined  in  almost  evry  thing  till  the  immediate  time  of 
Action  -  -  I  sometimes  think  myself  almost  useless  in  the 
scale  of  Beings  -  That  observation  will  exclude  any  Ques 
tion  from  you,  about  matrimony  in  me." 

"Norwich  I  perceive  has  really  become  a  City40  -  Mr 
Witter  sent  me  a  list  of  the  Officers  &  I  had  it  printed  in  the 
next  paper  —  &  how  is  every  body  pleased  —  are  they  wiser? 
—  more  happy  they  undoubtedly  are  as  they  think  —  are  they 
richer?  Or  do  they  marry  more?  perhaps  that  may  be 
regulated  by  a  bye  Law  -  -  write  to  me  if  it  is.  - 

Your  Aff*  brother 

Simeon." 

This  note  of  uncertainty  as  to  his  work  in  the  world  is 
struck  also  in  the  following  letter  to  his  father  and  mother : 

"Yale  College  Aug.  30.  1785. 
Hond  Parents. 

Altho  it  is  seldom  I  can  hear  direct  from  you,  yet  I  am 
happy  in  the  reflection  that  the  Distance  is  not  so  great,  but 
that  I  may  expect  to  know  if  any  thing  unhappy  takes  place  - 

The  wellfare  of  those  to  whom  I  am  under  so  many  obli 
gations,  will  ever  be  an  object  near  to  me  --  &  it  is  an  alloy 
to  the  agreeables  of  my  situation,  that  it  does  not  leave  it 
in  my  power  to  pay  that  Respect  &  Attention  which  my  own 
feelings  &  your  advanced  Age  require  —  It  is  a  duty  justly 
required  of  the  vigour  of  Youth  to  be  subservient  to  the 
infirmities  of  the  Aged  -  I  know  your  situation  is  such  that 
it  does  not  so  much  require  it,  yet  it  would  afford  me  pleasure 
could  I  do  it. 

I  think  it  will  be  with  me  this  fall  as  I  told  you  when  I  left 
you  last,  inconsistent  with  my  plans  to  visit  you  -  -  I  begin 
to  feel  the  importance  of  preparing  myself  for  something  in 
the  busy  scene  of  Life.  I  know  it  would  afford  you  pleasure 

40  It  received  its  charter  in  1784. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  233 

as  it  would  myself  to  perform  my  part  worthily  There  are 
many  spheres  in  which  Man  may  be  useful  to  man  -  It 
matters  little  which  we  choose  provided  it  be  supported  with 
the  views  of  the  patriot  &  the  Christian  -  I  pray  God  these 
may  be  mine  - 

That  the  blessings  of  this  Life  may  make  your  stay  easy 
—  &  the  rewards  of  Eternity  your  exit  Glorious  is  the  wish 
&  prayer  of  I  trust  your  Dutiful  Son 

Simeon  Baldwin  - 
Capt  &  Mrs  Baldwin  - 

The  final  graduation,  in  1785,  of  the  five  men  who  were 
plucked  at  the  Presentation  Day  examinations  occasioned 
much  unfavorable  comment. 

James  Kent  writes  Tutor  Baldwin  on  September  16, 
1785,  while  saying  a  kind  word  of  the  college  faculty,  to 
express  the  hope  that  Yale  will  be  a  little  more  careful  in 
requiring  proofs  of  good  scholarship  before  admitting  stu 
dents  to  graduation. 

"Your  Commencement  at  New  Haven  must  have  been  very 
lately.  I  should  like  very  well  to  be  present  once  more  at 
the  Exercises  of  such  a  Day,  &  I  should  be  allured  much  more 
from  Motives  of  Curiosity  than  of  Instruction  provided  the 
President  was  to  deliver  another  Arabic  Oration  —  He 
always  excited  my  Affection  from  the  Softness  of  his  man 
ners  &  the  Goodness  of  his  Heart,  but  my  Admiration  used 
to  be  carried  to  a  very  high  Pitch  from  my  Idea  of  the 
Immensity  of  his  Learning  &  his  Researches  as  an  Anti 
quarian  -  He  has  many  fanciful  Notions  which  I  shall  not 
undertake  to  refute  nor  to  defend.  But  he  is  the  Ornament 
of  the  Age  as  a  Scholar,  &  I  believe  those  who  are  entirely 
delivered  from  the  Pedantry  of  the  Schools,  &  whose  Ideas 
are  enlarged  by  History  &  Experience,  &  corrected  by  just 
Criticism  &  sound  Philosophy  will  still  see  cause  to  view  him 
with  great  Veneration.  I  ardently  wish  that  Glory  & 
Reputation  may  crown  the  Labours  of  that  our  parent  Uni- 


234  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

versity,  &  that  such  Moderation  &  Caution  may  attend  the 
Distribution  of  accademical  Honours  that  they  may  be 
courted  with  Emulation  &  conferred  as  a  sincere  Regard. 
You  have  never  told  me  any  thing  of  your  Associates  Mr 
Perkins  &  Channing.  I  think  they  must  be  by  this  time 
very  sensible  &  very  learned.  They  both  had  great  talents 
&  great  Industry  &  I  think  I  dare  safely  calculate  that  they 
have  already  fixed  their  Characters  &  added  Dignity  to  their 
respective  Professions.  I  dont  at  present  recollect  any  other 
of  our  old  Friends  who  had  such  a  favorable  Combination  of 
Genius,  Application,  &  Enterprize  as  to  raise  very  promising 
Expectations.  I  own  however  I  am  in  no  Situation  to  decide 
-  I  shall  rejoice  to  be  disappointed  -  -  &  if  the  literary  or 
political  character  of  either  of  them  should  reach  me,  I  shall 
very  cheerfully  pay  my  humble  Tribute  of  deserved  Appro 
bation." 

Early  in  the  fall  of  1785,  Dr.  Moyes  responded  to  the 
encouragement  given  him  in  behalf  of  the  College,  at  Provi 
dence  a  year  before,  and  gave  a  series  of  philosophical  lec 
tures  at  the  State  House  at  New  Haven.  The  preparations 
for  this  course  must  have  fallen  largely  on  Tutor  Baldwin. 

The  social  visiting  continued  along  its  former  lines.  On 
December  17,  1785,  Dr.  Stiles  notes  in  his  diary,  "Dined 
with  the  Tutors,  at  Mr.  Broome's."  The  four  tutors  con 
stituted  among  themselves  something  like  a  corporate  body. 
They  were  often  united  together,  as  an  academic  court.  Of 
course  they  naturally  made  an  important  part  of  the  younger 
social  set  in  New  Haven.  Among  Mr.  Baldwin's  papers 
has  been  preserved  this  invitation  to  all  of  them,  probably 
written  by  Miss  Betsey  Beers : 

"The  Tutors  of  Yale 

"Would  the  Muses  but  fly  to  my  Aid 
I'd  address  our  good  friends  now  in  rhyme 
Nor  ask'd  to  forgive  a  weak  maid 
Who  to  give  brilliant  strokes  has  n't  time 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  235 

For  so  dull  is  Eliza's  poor  pate 
And  so  languid  each  stroke  of  her  Pen 
Not  one  line  with  the  other  can  mate 
Thats  fit  for  the  Eyes  of  the  men 

But  a  truce  with  preambles  I  say 

Tis  a  request  that  the  Lasses  would  make 

To  change  the  abode  of  the  Day 

And  Tea  with  Mra  Goodrich  take 

Who  hath  sent  an  Invite  to  the  fair 
And  who  send  it  directly  to  you 
To  refuse  it  methinks  you'll  not  dare 
While  Polly's  sweet  face  is  in  view 

Old  mansion  1 1  oclock" 

"Mrs.  Goodrich"  was,  no  doubt,  the  wife  of  Judge  Elizur 
Goodrich.  They  were  married  September  i,  1785,  and  the 
tutors  of  the  following  year  were  Matthew  J.  Russell,  Simeon 
Baldwin,  Henry  Channing,  and  Enoch  Perkins. 

Miss  Betsey  Sherman,  the  younger  sister  of  Rebecca,  was 
now  "out"  in  society,  having  become  twenty  years  old  on 
December  31,  1785.  She  was  an  attractive  girl,  a  good 
talker,  with  a  ready  smile,  and  easy  manners. 

The  following  note,  addressed  to  the  two  sisters,  has  been 
preserved : 

"Mr  Baldwin's  Compliments  to  the  Miss  Shermans  -  -  he 
informs  them  that  Mr  Webster  will  accompany  him  to  visit 
the  Ladies  this  Afternoon  -  -  if  they  are  not  engaged  — 
Thursday  3.  o  Clock  — " 

Noah  Webster  (Yale,  Class  of  1778),  then  of  Hartford, 
gave  a  course  of  evening  lectures  on  the  English  language, 
in  June,  1786,  at  New  Haven. 

At  the  end  of  April,  1786,  a  serious  riot  occurred  among 
the  students.  The  Tutors'  windows  were  broken,  and  Tutor 


236  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

Channing's  door  met  with  a  similar  fate.  The  President 
and  Tutors  waited  a  couple  of  months  before  determining 
what  to  do  with  the  rioters.  At  last,  on  June  21,  they  pub 
lished  a  judgment  expelling  one  and  rusticating  several.41 
Tutor  Baldwin  wrote  of  the  affair  to  Kent,  on  July  10,  1786, 
who  replies  on  August  4 : 

"I  hardly  understand  what  you  mean  by  a  Yalensian  Earth 
quake  -  Perhaps  it  is  some  uncommon  Commotion  which 
has  arisen  (as  I  think  they  generally  used  to)  from  the  pecu 
liarity  of  College  Discipline  -  If  so  I  would  only  observe  & 
perhaps  not  nial  apropos  that  I  am  professionally  an  advocate 
for  strict  Discipline  in  the  administration  of  Justice  -  Let 
Laws  be  framed  with  Gentleness,  Moderation,  &  Wisdom, 
but  let  them  be  executed  with  Precision  &  with  quick  & 
irresistable  Authority." 

At  the  Presentation  Day  Exercises,  on  July  19,  1786,  Tutor 
Baldwin,  then  about  to  close  his  official  connection  with  the 
College,  delivered  a  valedictory  address  to  the  graduating 
class.  President  Stiles  notes  in  his  diary  that  it  occupied 
only  fifteen  and  a  half  minutes.  Extracts  from  it  follow: 

"We  wish  you  to  forget  as  much  as  possible  the  Individual 
Self  in  Regard  &  Exertions  for  the  Benefit  of  ye  Community. 
With  respect  to  your  Exertions.  It  is  a  matter  of  Indiff 
erence  wh1  profession  you  are  deligated  to  fill,  or  in  what 
sphere  you  are  appointed  to  move.  In  all  of  them  there  is 
infinite  Room  for  the  Display  of  Abilities  &  of  those  Virtues 
which  animate  the  Patriot,  the  Philanthropist  &  the  Chris 
tian."  ....  "Our  system  of  national  policy  we  still 
hope  may  be  brought  nearer  to  Perfection  -  And  the  Laws 
of  our  Land,  especially  that  System  of  Common  Law  which 
we  have  adopted,  -  -  altho'  it  has  ever  aimed  at  a  consonance 
with  the  most  perfect  Reason  (for  Reason  is  the  Life  of  this 

rational  Science)" "There  is  yet  before 

you  an  infinite  field  for  Improvement  in  the  Arts  &  in  the 

41  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  227. 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  237 

Sciences.  They  are  many  of  them  far  from  that  perfection 
to  which  hereafter  they  will  doubtless  be  brought.  Those 
improvements  depend  much  upon  the  speculations  & 
researches  of  philosophical  Retirement  Should  the 

Genius  of  any  of  you  turn  your  attention  to  any  part  of  this 
field,  we  doubt  not  but  you  may  be  of  essential  service  to 
Mankind  -  Many  branches  of  Philosophy  even  at  the 
present  Day  are  but  little  understood.  The  application  of 
the  accuracy  of  Mathematics  to  the  works  of  Nature  &  of 

Art  is  capable  of  being-  much  extended." 

"The  communication  of  Knowledge  to  the  rising  Generation 
should  not  only  be  countenanced  &  patronized  by  men  of 
knowledge,  but  they  must  be  the  active  Characters.  When 
youth  are  taught  erroneously  by  the  ignorant,  they  find  it 
a  matter  of  more  difficulty  to  unlearn  what  they  have  thus 
learned,  than  to  make,  under  proper  Instructors,  those  very 
acquirements  at  which  they  aimed.  In  a  republican  form  of 
Government,  the  people  retain  as  much  as  possible  the  Power 
in  their  own  Hands  -  They  are  all  eligable  to  offices  of 
Government  &  Legislation;  it  is  therefore  of  the  utmost 
importance,  in  a  political,  as  well  as  in  a  Religious  view  & 
from  a  regard  to  the  happiness  of  Individuals,  that  Education 
should  be  promoted  in  all  the  ranks  of  the  people  -  -  yet  it  is 
a  literal,  tho  a  melancholy  fact,  that  475th8  of  the  people  in 
many  of  the  States  can  neither  read  or  write  -  "here  is 
their  Liberty.  Wh*  in  their  Virtue.  W*  is  their  Happiness  ?" 
"Such  my  young  friends  is  that  Theatre  upon  which  we 
hope  you  will  be  ambitious  to  act  conspicuous  parts.  We 
hope  you  will  resolve  not  to  bury  a  single  talent;  that  you 
will  neither  be  treacherous  to  yourselves  nor  treacherous  to 
your  fellow-Citizens  -  Resolve  ever  to  be  masters  of  that 
particular  line  of  business  which  you  profess,  nor  attempt 
that  for  which  Nature  never  designed  you  —  No  Man  was 
ever  made  in  vain ;  nature  designed  each  one  for  some  use 
ful  part.  We  must  know  our  place  in  the  beautiful  grada 
tions  of  Nature  in  that  we  may  be  ambitious  &  we  may 
encourage  in  our  Breasts  a  laudable  Emulation  to  excell  — 
The  great  characters  who  have  deserved  well  of  their 
country,  before  you,  have  been  indefatigable  in  their 


238  Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor 

endeavours.  You  must  be  so  too  —  you  ought  never  to 
think  you  have  acquired  knowledge  enough  in  the  profes 
sion  which  you  may  undertake,  for  altho  you  have  greater 
advantages,  than  those  who  have  gone  before  you  -  -  yet 
knowledge  is  not  hereditary  —  we  cannot  begin  where 
our  fathers  left  off:  each  one  must  begin  &  travel  the  road 
for  himself 

But  after  all  your  most  vigorous  exertions  &  benevolent 
Intentions,  be  not  disappointed  if  you  meet  with  opposition 
from  the  envious  &  the  malevolent  world.  Many  of  you 
have  doubtless  flattered  yourselves  with  happier  Times  than 
those  halcyon  Days  you  have  here  enjoyed ;  we  wish  you  not 
to  be  deceived  by  entertaining  too  exalted  Ideas  of  the  Hap 
piness  of  Life  -  Clashing  interests  beget  foes  even  among 
nominal  friends,  &  successful  merit  is  not  without  invidious 
enemies  -  Be  not  surprized,  such  is  the  strange  nature  of 
man,  if  even  those,  whom  you  may  lay  under  the  strongest 
obligations,  by  conferring  on  them  the  greatest  kindnesses 
—  by  a  long  course  on  the  most  benevolent  Conduct  towards 
them  -  -  by  labouring  with  the  most  disinterested  affection 
for  their  welfare,  should  turn  against  you  with  rancorous 
malevolence  &  become  your  enemies.  But  be  not  discouraged 
at  this.  I  only  mention  it  to  give  you  a  just  estimate  of 
human  Life.  That  Armour  of  Virtue  which  has  supported 
those  who  have  gone  before  will  support  you  —  Knowledge 
is  but  one  of  the  pillars  of  Greatness.  Virtue  is  necessary 
to  complete  the  Glory  of  Nations  &  the  usefulness  &  happi 
ness  of  Individuals  -  I  know  that  office  &  Riches  may  some 
times  be  obtained  without  it  —  But  "what  is  the  blaze  of 
Glory,  the  Arm  of  Power  or  the  golden  Lure  of  Wealth," 
when  compared  to  the  Charms  of  Virtue  —  This  is  amiable 
in  private  stations.  It  completes  the  glorious  Character  of 
eminence  in  the  Great.  -  -  we  wish  you  to  cultivate  above  all 
other  accomplishments  that  Virtue  which  will  make  you 
happy  in  Life  &  triumphant  in  Death  — 

We  feel  interested  my  young  friends,  in  the  prosperity  & 
happiness  of  all  those  with  whom  we  have  been  connected 
by  those  ties  which  have  united  us.  It  is  our  earnest  wish 
&  the  prayer  of  our  Hearts  that  you  may  grow  in  Knowledge 


Life  at  Yale  as  a  Tutor  239 

&  increase  in  evry  amiable  accomplishment,  that  you  may  be 
noble  in  your  motives  &  diffusive  in  your  exertions  for  the 
happiness  of  Society  -  -  you  will  then  be  a  Joy  to  your 
Parents  an  Honour  to  this  Institution  &  a  blessing  to  your 
Country;  and  when  the  weight  of  meritorious  services  shall 
bear  you  down  in  the  Decline  of  Life  you  will  enjoy  the  peace 
of  a  calm  &  quiet  conscience,  the  applause  of  a  Grateful 
Country,  &  the  approbation  of  your  God. 

Dear  Sirs  farewell  —  " 

On  September  14,  1786,  the  day  after  Commencement, 
Tutors  Baldwin,  Channing,  and  Perkins  resigned  their 
offices.42 

There  had  been,  during  the  past  few  years,  not  a  few  sharp 
criticisms  of  the  ease  with  which  students  were  both  admitted 
and  graduated  by  Yale  College.  His  classmate,  Channing, 
writes  to  Mr.  Baldwin,  December  2oth,  1786,  to  express  his 
pleasure  to  hear  from  him  that  this  was  being  corrected : 

"I  am  happy  in  your  information,  that  College  is  in  a 
tranquil  state  and  appear  pleased  with  the  Officers.  -  I  hope 
they  will  invariably  pursue  some  effectual  plan  to  preserve 
Yale  from  producing  mere  Diploma  Scholars.  —  I  have 
heard  that  the  Killingworth  Scholar  has  been  reexamined 
and  my  information  is  that  he  was  HONORABLY  admitted.  — 
I  must  acknowledge  that  I  cannot  conceive  how  Six  weeks 
should  fit  a  Person  for  College :  for  when  we  examined  him 
at  Commencement  he  did  not  appear  to  know  scarcely  the 
A.  B.  C  of  the  Languages.  -  But  I  am  sure  that  the  present 
Officers  of  College  are  our  Friends,  and  would  not  wish  to 
pain  our  feelings.  -  But  how  to  reconcile  this  step,  I  know 
not.  I  will  hope  the  best  &  flatter  myself  that  when  more 
fully  acquainted  with  particulars  I  shall  be  satisfied." 

42  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  239. 


CHAPTER  VI 
CHOICE  OF  A  PROFESSION,  AND  MARRIAGE 

Mr.  Baldwin's  relations  with  Miss  Sherman  seem  to  have 
continued  unchanged  during  at  least  the  latter  part  of  his 
tutorship.  The  mysterious  entry  in  his  journal  of  Nov. 
14,  1785,  was  soon  followed  by  the  abandonment  of  that 
record  of  his  life.  It  may  not  improbably  refer  to  some 
explanations  between  them,  on  the  days  mentioned,  upon  the 
subject  of  his  prospects  of  marriage,  which  were  certainly 
not  very  encouraging. 

Little  had  been  received  from  his  brother's  legacy,  owing 
to  the  depreciation  of  State  loans.  The  year's  salary  due 
him  from  the  city  of  Albany  had  not  been  fully  paid.  He 
was  obliged  to  write  to  successive  mayors  again  and  again, 
to  ask  for  the  balance.  In  such  a  letter,  dated  March  27, 
1787,  he  says:  "I  would  do  almost  any  thing  for  the  money, 
for  I  have  calculated  upon  my  expectation  of  receiving  it 
before  this,  and  am  exceedingly  embarrassed  for  the  want 
of  it."  It  did  not  come  finally  until  November,  1788,  when, 
as  the  fruit  of  a  special  journey  to  Albany  and  threat  of  a 
law  suit,  £28,  3d  was  paid  and  received  in  full,  without  any 
allowance  for  the  four  years'  interest.  His  salary  as  tutor 
had  been  paid  in  a  depreciated  paper  currency,  and  he  could 
have  saved  but  little.  His  father  was  earning  nothing,  and 
had  but  a  small  property. 

He  had  begun,  as  a  tutor,  the  study  of  divinity,  which  his 
sister  Mary  had  recommended  him  to  pursue,  but  he  soon 
abandoned  it  for  law.  He  had  indeed,  in  1785,  no  definite 
plans  or  prospects  as  to  settling  down  for  life.  He  was  a 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  241 

young  man  of  good  morals,  but  had  never  undergone  the 
spiritual  experience  insisted  on  by  most  of  the  Congrega- 
tionalists  of  Connecticut  at  that  time,  under  the  name  of 
regeneration.  He  had  been  bred  up  as  a  strict  Sabbatarian, 
and  in  writing  to  a  friend,  Sunday,  July  19,  1786,  he  says: 

"It  is  not  frequent  that  I  intentionally  Interrupt  the  solemn 
Duties  of  this  Sacred  Day  -  -  but  when  I  devote  the  stolen 
moments  to  those  Duties  upon  which  depend  the  felicity  & 
refinement  of  our  Nature  -  -  they  are  almost  as  sacredly 
employed  &  I  trust  I  shall  be  forgiven." 

Theological  definitions  and  doctrines  had  no  attraction  for 
him.  He  had  never  become  a  member  of  the  church.  He 
had  no  gift  of  speech  at  church  prayer-meetings,  and  never 
opened  his  mouth  when  he  attended  one.  Under  these 
circumstances  he  did  not  incline  to  the  clerical  profession. 

He  had  some  predilections  for  a  business  life,  but  knew 
that  it  was  of  doubtful  promise  to  one  without  capital  or 
commercial  connections. 

In  January,  1784,  he  writes  to  his  classmate  Isaacs,  thus: 

"You  know  I  am  at  College,  &  I  believe  as  happy  as  such  a 
station  can  make  me  -  -  but  I  am  a  restless  creature  -  -  this 
is  not  the  place  -  -  I've  roved  long  &  far  enough  from  the 
point  -  -  I  wish  to  be  settled  agreeably  for  Life  -  -  happiness 
with  me  &  prospects  before  me.  -  I  care  not  what  my 
employment  is  provided  it  be  a  virtuous  one  -  .... 

You  wish  to  know  I  suppose  what  road  thro  Life  my  wishes 
may  direct  me  -  -  I  answer  I  suppose  contrary  to  your  expec 
tations  -  •  That  at  present  the  line  of  the  mercantile  Life  is 
my  object.  -  -  This  is  my  wish  &  I  believe  I  shall  endeavour 
to  encompass  it  &  wait  only  for  a  little  more  information  — 
an  agreeable  partner  &  suitable  place  -  -  Necessity  does  not 
drive  me  so,  but  I  may  have  time  to  speculate  a  little  more  — 
my  plans  are  yet  sub  rosa.  they  may  be  chimeric." 


242  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

The  final  choice  of  law  was  not  absolutely  made  until  the 
following  winter,  nor  did  he  then  decide  where  to  settle.  He 
was  at  first  inclined  to  commence  practice  at  Tolland,  in  the 
newly  constituted  County  of  that  name,  which  was  then  the 
seat  of  some  not  unimportant  mining  interests. 

His  sister  Bethiah,  always  a  plain-spoken  monitor,  wrote  to 
him  in  reference  to  his  choice  of  a  profession,  in  a  letter 
which  also  throws  a  side  light  on  the  morals  of  the  day. 

"Norwich    January  3Oth,  1785 
Dear  Brother 

I  received  your  letter  &  very  wilingly  answer 
it  I  could  be  wiling  to  write  much  oftener  if  opertunity 
presented  I  think  you  preferred  Staing  to  Newhaven  to 
study  of  the  Law  to  visiting  your  friends;  then  you  think 
of  being  a  Lawyer,  do  you,  -  -  all  that  Studies  the  Law 
intend  to  be  a  great  won ;  dont  intend  to  be  the  one  that  has 
but  little  buisnes  I  dont  know  but  honest  Lawers  are  as 
necessary  as  honest  Ministers:  if  you  can  make  as  good  a 
figgure  in  the  Law  as  Mr  Austin1  does  in  the  Pulpit,  you  will 
Shine:  he  is  very  well  liked  for  a  Preacher;  he  is  made  on 
purpose  for  that  caling  I  believe;  he  is  very  well  liked  in 
the  School;  they  had  an  exibition  about  a  month  ago  it 
was  very  well  liked:  a  great  many  more  people  than  could 
git  into  the  house:  it  was  thought  there  was  Six  or  Seven 
hundred  people  got  into  the  house :  as  great  many  went  away 
that  could  not  git  in.  I  believe  he  is  at  a  loos  about  Staing 
another  year:  he  wants  to  go  about  preaching  I  must  not 
omit  telling  you  that  Father  and  Mother  has  ben  to  Summers 
in  the  Slay;  was  gone  about  a  weak.  Father  bore  the  jour 
ney  very  well :  well,  another  peace  of  news,  I  dont  know  but 
Polle  thinks  you  will  be  a  Bacheldor,  for  she  has  realy  got  a 
Son  and  cals  his  name  Simeon:  by  that  you  Se  She  thinks 
you  wil  want  an  heir:  I  think  She  gives  you  over  verry 
young  More  news :  my  letter  contains  as  much  news  as  our 
Newspaper  now  a  days.  Mr  X  has  got  a  son  9  weaks  old ; 

1  Rev.  David  Austin  (Yale,  Class  of  1779). 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  243 

Married  I  think  6  weaks;  Marring  I  think  has  quite  made 
up  all  with  Salles  troubles  Seams  to  be  at  an  end,  and  all 
the  rest  of  them  has  got  over  it :  I  think  if  She  was  a  little 
more  humble,  it  would  become  her  much  better.  Benne  is 
now  hear;  expects  to  Set  out  for  Baltimore  this  weak;  is 
not  to  come  again  til  next  August.  Salle  has  concluded  not 
to  go  at  al,  he  thinks,  to  stay  a  year  or  two  and  then  come  hear 
and  live :  I  never  thought  that  She  would  go,  I  find  I  have 
got  to  the  bottom  of  my  paper  So  bid  you  good  night 

from  your  Affectionate  Sister 

Bethiah  Baldwin 
P  S  Sister  Witter  rembers  Love  to  you." 

Mr.  Baldwin's  legal  education  begun  at  New  Haven,  while 
he  was  a  graduate  student,  and  continued  at  Albany  under 
Peter  W.  Yates,  was  finally  concluded  at  New  Haven  while 
he  was  a  tutor  at  Yale,  and  on  January  9,  1786,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Connecticut  by  the  Superior  Court  at 
New  Haven.  His  life-long  friend,  David  Daggett,  entered 
it  at  the  same  time.  The  plan  of  settling  in  Tolland  County 
had  now  been  abandoned  in  favor  of  New  Haven,  and  Kent 
thus  refers  to  it  in  a  letfer  of  July  10,  1786: 

"You  have  determined  it  seems  to  settle  at  New  Haven  & 
if  the  obvious  Objection  against  Capitals  can  be  surmounted, 
I  mean  the  Establishment  of  Influence  of  able  &  elderly 
Council,  you  are  always  sure  to  maintain  a  Superiority  at  the 
Bar.  The  Road  to  Improvement  to  Property  &  to  Fame 
is  always  more  open  &  inviting  at  the  principal  Seats  of 
Justice  &  they  always  draw  together  the  most  celebrated 
Members  of  the  Profession.  But  every  Gentlemen  must 
lay  it  to  his  Account  I  think,  &  I  would  ever  recommend  it 
to  those  who  are  favoured  with  solid  Parts  &  have  elevated 
Imaginations  to  bestow  their  time  upon  the  Law  with  inde 
fatigable  application.  There  is  no  arriving  at  Eminence 
as  a  cautious  &  sound  Lawyer  without  it  —  The  Science  & 


244  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

principally  the  practical  part  has  become  too  intricate,  com 
prehensive  &  immense  by  the  progress  (of)  the  Age  &  the 
Revolutions  of  Political  Society  to  be  caught  &  supported  by 
the  mere  irradiations  of  Genius  -  There  must  be  the  viginti 
annorum  Lucubrationes  to  enable  us  to  maintain  the  Rank  of 
learned  Councellors  as  well  as  the  Dignity  &  penetration  of 
the  judicial  Character." 

Four  years  had  now  gone  by  since  Miss  Sherman  and  he 
had  come  to  an  understanding.  The  match  had  been  before 
the  eyes  of  his  sisters  as  a  happy  possibility  as  long  before 
as  1781.  Several  of  his  family  came  on  to  New  Haven,  in 
September,  1781,  to  attend  his  Commencement,  and  stayed 
as  boarders  with  her  sister-in-law,  Mrs.  John  Sherman.  On 
their  return  to  Norwich  his  sister  Mary  wrote  him,  on 
November  3,  1781,  a  letter  containing  this  passage: 

"How  does  your  School  go  on  has  it  increased  according 
to  your  wishes  Think  you  shall  tarry  at  New  Haven  any 
length  of  time  if  you  are  like  to  I  should  wish  to  form  a 
more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  Miss  Shermans  As 
they  used  us  very  Politely  I  should  be  glad  if  Pas'  accommo 
dations  would  any  ways  answer  to  have  one  of  them  come 
here  with  you  in  the  spring  You  know  how  it  is  if  you 
think  it  worth  while  you  may  give  an  invitation  from  me 
be  that  as  it  will  you  must  give  my  complements  to  them  all 
And  to  M™  Sherman  where  we  lodged." 

A  few  days  later  Bethiah  sent  him  a  letter  in  which  she 
says  that  she  thought  the  Miss  Shermans  very  pretty,  and 
wished  he  might  render  himself  agreeable  in  their  esteem, 
and  "perhaps  lay  a  foundation  for  by-and-by  perhaps." 

Miss  Sherman  had  many  near  relatives  in  Salem,  and  went 
on  with  her  Uncle  Prescott,  to  make  a  visit  there,  in  Novem 
ber,  1782. 

That  his  intimate  friends  were  by  that  time  pretty  well 
assured  that  Mr.  Baldwin  was  practically  engaged  to  her  is 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  245 

plain  from  what  Dr.  John  Goodrich  (Yale,  Class  of  1778) 
writes  him  on  November  3,  1782: 

"Mr.  Prescott  set  out  for  Salem  this  afternoon,  and  with 
him  I  suppose  went  all  that  is  dear  to  you  in  N  Haven  — 
well  proved,  you  could  not  have  made  a  better  choice  (I  being 
judge !)  I  must  conclude  with  a  monthly  chronology  of  New 
Haven  occurences  D  Dr.  Stiles  married  at  Providence  Mra 
Chickley  and  is  expected  in  town  to  morrow  -  Mr  Ely  has 
accepted  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Church  of  Lebanon  is  to 
be  ordained  next  week  —  Mra  Meigs2  is  safely  put  to  bed  with 
a  young  Dauphin  (in  her  esteem).  It  is  rumored  that  Mr 
Lovett3  writes  very  long  Letters  to  Miss  B.  B:  that  Mr 
Crocker4  is  Courting  Miss  A.  A.  that  Mr  King  the  honest 
is  ogling  the  plump  Miss  S.  A:  -  that  Mr  Williams  the 
Long  bends  towards  Miss  L.  A.  the  Slim,  and  that  College 
cannot  be  kept  in  the  new  hall  for  want  of  butter  this  Winter, 
but  the  last  wants  confirmation/' 

The  real  difficulty  in  the  way  of  an  engagement  to  Miss 
Sherman  and  the  public  announcement  of  it,  at  this  time,  was 
Mr.  Baldwin's  want  of  means.  On  August  9,  1783,  he 
writes  from  Albany  to  his  sister  Bethiah,  referring  to  his 
New  Haven  visit  in  June,  and  to  what  occurred  there,  thus: 

'Tis  probable,  I  think,  I  may  be  at  Norwich  in  the  begin 
ning  of  October  -  -  shall  have  done  with  this  -  -  'tis  not  that 
the  place  or  situation  is  disagreeable  nor  that  the  people  wish 
me  gone  --  but  the  fancy  of  Youth  is  subject  to  Sallies,  that 
appear  unaccountable  -  May  be  I'll  then  study  Law  — 
turn  Merchant  —  or  cut  some  other  unexpected  Caper  — 

2  Mrs.  Josiah  Meigs,  wife  of  Tutor  Meigs   (Yale,  Class  of  1778), 
who  was  afterwards  President  of  the  University  of  Georgia. 

3  John   Lovett    (Yale,   Class   of    1782),   afterwards   a   member   of 
Congress  from  New  York. 

4  Daniel  Crocker   (Yale,  Class  of   1782),  who  afterwards  married 
Miss  Ann  Austin  of  New  Haven. 


246  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

I  made  an  agreeable  tho'  too  short  a  viz  —  at  N  haven 
saw  my  friends  &  passed  the  time  happily  -  believe  I  might 
have  leave  to  talk  upon  preliminaries,  with  a  certain  coy 
friend  of  our  acquaintance  -  -  but  what  could  I  do  with  a 
partner  when  with  my  best  economy  I  can  scarce  maintain 
my  Self  -  Oh !  what  a  World  we  live  in !" 

It  would  appear  that  an  engagement  was  first  made  known 
late  in  1783,  to  some  intimate  friends  outside  of  his  family. 
In  January,  1784,  a  letter  from  Mr.  Perkins  to  Mr.  Baldwin 
congratulates  him  upon  his  engagement  to  Miss  Sherman, 
and  refers  to  her  as  possessing  "an  agreeable  person,  deli 
cacy,  &  an  amiable  female  diffidence,  united  (with)  good 
sense  &  a  cultivated  mind/' 

He  still  apparently  did  not  take  his  family  into  full  con 
fidence.  On  March  22,  1784,  his  sister  Bethiah  writes  him: 

"You  are  so  reserved  about  your  courting  matters,  you 
wont  let  me  know  any  thing  of  the  matter.  I  shall  come 
up  with  you,  when  I  am  courted  I  shall  not  give  you  any 
intelligence  of  it." 

On  June  20,  1784,  Samuel  Austin  of  New  Haven  (Yale, 
Class  of  1783)  writes  him  from  Norwich: 

"You,  Sir,  are  very  happily  situated.  Collegiate  acquaint 
ance  is  well  calculated  to  afford  true  satisfaction,  and  I 
think  I  need  not  mention  a  neighbouring  source  of  distin 
guished  pleasure." 

A  letter  to  Mr.  Baldwin  from  Mr.  Kent,  in  the  early  fall 
of  1784,  from  which  some  extracts  follow,  shows  that  up 
to  that  time  the  writer  had  not  been  informed  of  the  other's 
engagement. 

"Major  Livingston  saw  you,  he  tells  me,  at  the  ordination 
of  Mr  Stebbins;  says  that  you  are  a  clean,  lively  agreeable 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  247 

Gentleman  -  -  that  you  appeared  to  be  very  much  my  Friend, 
&  further  that  you  waited  upon  a  Miss  Sherman,  whom  it 
was  said  &  believed  you  had  selected  as  your  Companion  & 
would  soon  combine  your  Hearts  according  to  form. 
wish  you  all  possible  Happiness  my  Friend  &  from  my  faint 
Recollection  of  the  Lady  I  am  almost  inclined  to  send  her 
my  Compliments  for  your  sake;  indeed  you  may  politely 
present  them  if  you  please.  I  think  you  have  as  good  a 
Heart  as  I  have  hitherto  found  among  the  faithless  Race  of 
Mankind,  I  therefore  love  &  prize  you  highly,  will  give 
you  a  sacred  Deposit  in  my  Memory,  &  even  raise  you  to  a 
seat  among  the  few  the  very  few  Geniusses  of  my  Reverence 
&  Adoration." 

It  shows  also  that  Kent  was  looking  forward  to  a  dis 
tinguished  career,  for  he  continues  thus : 

"In  this  Manner  does  Fortune  diversify  our  Lives  — 
You  are  a  Tutor  -  -  almost  a  Husband  &  a  Gentleman  of 
Genius  &  Reputation.  I  as  yet  am  covered  with  Obscurity 
&  have  received  no  Wreath  of  Honor  to  animate  my  counte 
nance  -  I  am  as  yet  a  poor  Clerk  to  an  Attorney  &  all  my 
Property  is  confined  to  my  Chest,  a  few  Cloths  within  it  & 
some  papers  &  Manuscripts,  the  Fruit  of  an  industrious 
Hour.  But  I  have  a  thirst  for  knowledge  &  a  Determination 
to  put  in  a  claim  for  some  of  those  Honors  which  imprint 
Immortality  on  Characters,  &  this  thirst  &  this  Determina 
tion  I  trust  under  providence  will  lead  me  forward  to  some 
of  those  good  &  generous  Actions  &  that  sacred  integrity  of 
Conduct  &  Principle  which  will  render  me  not  a  dishonor 
able  Object  of  the  few  who  love  Me,  as  you  are  an  honorable 
Connection  to  me  &  to  all  others  who  love  you. 

There  is  but  3  or  4  Persons  on  Earth  that  I  would  write 
to  with  the  same  unreserved  Frankness  that  I  do  to  you,  & 
was  you  to  forget  me  &  become  faithless  to  your  Trust  I 
shall  think  very  contemptibly  of  the  Species  &  become  a  per 
fect  Misanthropist  —  I  have  been  several  times  deceived 
since  I  left  college  —  My  unsuspicious  Confidence  has 


248  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

betrayed  me  to  several,  whom  I  thought  my  Friends  -  I 
have  since  grown  thoughtful,  &  reserved  -  I  do  not  take 
up  Mankind  upon  trust  &  if  I  am  not  very  mistaken,  it  would 
require  from  a  Stranger  the  Assiduity  of  a  twelvemonth  to 
insinuate  himself  as  far  in  my  Confidence  as  you  are.  But 
I  deny  that  I  am  very  misanthropical  as  yet.  I  admire  the 
nobler  &  what  are  termed  the  generous  passions  of  the  Heart, 
that  Patriotism  which  embraces  our  Country  &  that  Benev 
olence  which  comprehends  all  Mankind.  These  enlarged 
Principles  of  social  Affection  warm  the  human  Breast  & 
awaken  those  Ardent  Ideas  of  Justice,  Greatness,  Generosity 
&  public  Duty  which  have  always  attended  conspicuous  Merit, 
&  produced  the  most  faithful  &  vigorous  Exertions  for  the 
Splender  of  the  Commonwealth  &  the  political  Happiness  of 
the  human  Kind.  This  recalls  the  Idea  of  a  Character  I 
have  just  been  reading  &  as  his  Life  may  be  read  without 
classical  Erudition  it  is  not  pedantic  to  mention  him  here. 
It  is  Peter  the  Great,  His  pacific  Virtues  &  the  Labors  be 
bestowed  upon  cherishing  the  Arts  &  civilizing  his  Country, 
has,  &  will  still  no  less  attract  the  admiration  of  Posterity, 
than  the  History  of  his  Conquests  &  the  Memory  of  his 
marvellous  atchievments :  his  Genius  is  more  to  be  admired 
as  it  was  found  in  a  very  uncommon  Situation,  I  mean  on  a 
despotic  Throne.  The  present  King  of  Prussia  is  another 
rare  Instance  of  the  Kind.  He  has  discovered  an  astonish 
ing  Richness  &  Strength  of  Mind  &  is  at  the  same  time 
Philosopher,  Historian,  &  Poet,  Politician  &  Hero.  But  as 
I  much  question,  notwithstanding  what  has  been  said  to  the 
contrary,  his  Humanity  &  Patriotism,  he  cannot  be  consid 
ered  as  a  bright  Specimen  of  their  benevolent  (character), 
&  so  adieu  to  Kings  &  moralizing  -  -  Chesterfield  says  Man 
should  never  speak  of  himself  except  in  a  Court  of  Justice 
as  a  Witness,  I  would  allow  him  also  in  a  private  Letter  to 
an  intimate  Friend,  else  you  see  I  must  be  obliged  to  confess 
my  own  Vanity  or  Impropriety  or  make  some  Apology  for 
talking  so  much  of  myself,  but  I  will  do  neither  because  I 
believe  neither  is  necessary  in  the  present  Instance  for  I 
have  no  Rules  of  Criticism  for  a  Friend's  Letter  except  this 
simple  one,  that  it  be  careless  &  unreserved  — 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  249 

Give  my  compliments  to  Mess18  Channing  &  Perkins  & 
every  other  old  Acquaintance  that  you  think  will  receive  them 
with  Complaisance  &  Friendship  -  I  wish  you  an  agree 
able  Commencement  &  that  the  exhibitions  &  particularly 
your  own,  may  be  performed  with  Applause  &  Honor  - 

Adieu 

my  Dear  Friend 

James  Kent. 
Mr  Baldwin  - 

As  year  after  year  rolled  away,  it  would  not  have  been 
strange  if  Miss  Sherman  had  become  somewhat  impatient 
of  further  delays.  Her  younger  sister  was  now  taking  a 
place  among  the  young  people,  which  was  more  prominent 
than  her  own.  Miss  Betsey,  as  a  young  lady  in  society,  had 
plenty  of  admirers.  Her  older  sister  would  naturally  receive 
less  attention  from  young  men,  after  her  relations  to  Mr. 
Baldwin  became  generally  understood.  Miss  Betsey,  too, 
was  of  a  livelier  disposition,  and  a  more  interesting  talker. 
She  had  also  received  a  better  education.  Rebecca's  spell 
ing  was  poor,  though  far  from  being  as  bad  as  that  of 
Bethiah  Baldwin.  Her  style  of  expression  in  letters  was 
commonplace.  Betsey,  besides  what  she  knew  of  her  native 
tongue,  had  studied  French. 

Miss  Rebecca  had  other  correspondents  among  her  gentle 
men  friends  about  this  time.  The  following  is  from  a  tal 
ented  brother  of  her  friend  Miss  Anna  Pitkin  of  Farmington. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Class  of  1785,  at  Yale,  and  had 
gone  to  Plainfield  to  earn  a  little  money  by  teaching  school, 
before  commencing  the  study  of  law. 

"Plainfield  May  2;th  1786 

The  promise  I  made  of  writing,  you  see,  I  take  the  earliest 
opportunity  to  fulfil;  so  that  if  any  one  should  enquire, 
whether  I  perform  my  promises,  you  can  tell  them  I  do, 
almost  before  I  make  them. 


250  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

Now,  if  you  please,  I  will  give  you  an  account  of  my 
journey  -  I  left  Farmington,  you  know,  on  Thursday 
morning  with  considerable  reluctance  —  proceeded  no 
farther  than  East  Hartford  that  night,  after  having  been 
successfull  with  Mr  Elsworth  —  Next  day  I  rode  to 
Windham  in  company  with  some  gentlemen  belonging  to  that 
place  —  On  Saturday  I  arrived  at  Plainfield  —  where  I  am 
now  settled  down  for  the  summer  — 

Though  not  well  versed  in  narration  yet  I  will  give  you  a 
short  description  of  the  place  in  as  Geographical  a  manner 
as  I  am  able  -  Plainfield  lies  about  sixty  miles  from  Farm 
ington  and  ninety  from  New  Haven.  It  is  situated  upon  the 
side  of  a  hill  which  gradually  ascends  —  But  this  you  will 
say  is  a  paradox,  that  a  plain-field  should  be  situated  upon 
the  declivity  of  a  Mountain  —  however  it  is  not  less  para 
doxical  than  true  and  I  am  as  much  difficulted  to  account  for 
the  phenomenon  as  any  one  -  It  commands  a  very  beautiful 
prospect  to  the  west  and  so  extensive  that  three  or  four  Meet 
ing  Houses  are  seen  from  the  street  -  It  contains  also  many 
clever  people  — 

I  suppose  you  have  not  forgot  the  promise  you  made  to 
send  me  the  answer  to  your  Letter,  I  shall  insist  on  the  per 
formance  of  it  —  I  likewise  shall  expect  to  see  you  and  Nancy 
here  this  summer,  though  I  very  much  fear,  I  shall  be  dis 
appointed  ;  but  I'll  bear  up  under  the  disappointment  as  well 
as  I  can  —  This,  I  suppose,  will  be  handed  you  by  Mr  Bid- 
well  --it  was  written  in  a  great  hurry,  as  you  will  doubtless 
perceive,  and  if,  after  perusal,  you  will  commit  it  to  the  flames, 
you  will  oblige  your  sincere  Friend  — 

Timy.  Pitkin." 

Miss  Pitkin,  soon  to  marry  Enoch  Perkins,  writes  Miss 
Betsey  thus,  on  August  30,  1786,  of  the  impending  Com 
mencement  gayeties: 

"I  can  hardly  refrain  from  saying  that  I  wish  to  be  one 
of  the  large  number  that  I  suppose  will  meet  at  that  time, 
but  as  a  substitute  for  my  absence  I  expect  that  my  imagina 
tion  will  make  you  a  visit  &  there  find  my  friend  Betsey  with 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  251 

the  most  attentive  Capers  about  her  —  &  that  attention 
received  with  so  much  indifference  that  I  shall  pity  those 
painfull  feelings  it  will  cause  —  you  will  think  me  a  droll 
girl  I  believe  to  write  thus,  but  what  comes  into  my  head  goes 
on  to  my  paper." 

In  February  of  the  next  year  Miss  Betsey  received  another 
letter,  from  a  gentleman  who  could  hardly  have  been  one 
of  the  caperers  around  her  moth-compelling  flame  at  Com 
mencement.  It  was  from  Mr.  Baldwin,  on  the  general  sub 
ject  of  the  virtue  of  benevolence.  Her  sister  had  been  fed 
with  occasional  compositions  of  a  similar  kind. 

It  reads  thus : 

"Feby  23d  1787 
Miss  Betsy 

That  benevolent  Heart  which  wishes  Happiness  to  all  the 
objects  of  happiness  around  it,  tho'  you  may  be  surprised  at 
the  receipt  of  my  Letter  will  not  impute  it  to  my  Vanity,  that 
I  write  -  -  yet  had  I  Vanity  enough  to  think  it  would  please 
you,  that  little  Benevolence  of  which  I  am  possessed  should 
have  the  due  credit  of  it ;  but  it  does  not  I  think  destroy  the 
Virtue  of  Benevolence  that  the  operation  of  it  is  not  benefi 
cent.  So  I'll  venture  to  write  &  allow  you  to  give  the  credit 
to  that  page  of  the  Ledger  of  our  intimacy  where  the  account 
current  of  my  Foibles  or  Virtues  suits  it  the  best.  —  The 
thoughts  of  a  moment  run  no  great  hazzard  when  they  are 
only  submitted  to  the  Candour  of  a  benevolent  Mind.  —  But 
what  is  this  benevolence  which  is  so  very  kind  that  we  can 
with  confidence  trust  our  reputation  to  it  -  -  it  is  no  other 
than  that  social  feeling  of  the  human  Heart  which  breaths 
the  spirit  of  Philanthropy  to  all  being  capable  of  Happiness 
This,  not  external  beauty,  is  that  accomplishment  which 
makes  the  possessors  of  it  angelic  -  -  'tis  heavenly,  this  refines 
humanity,  it  exalts  the  dignity  of  human  Nature  —  How 
very  different  the  world  would  appear  were  we  generally 
influenced  in  our  intercourse  with  each  other  by  feelings 
like  these  —  Malevolence  would  be  no  more  —  contention 


252  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

would  cease,  every  moulder  in  the  dust  &  all  those  nameless 
passions  which  riot  on  the  miseries  of  our  fellow  beings, 
would  yield  to  the  Scepter  of  Benevolence  -  -  one  would 
almost  think  that  the  whole  of  Religion,  &  morality  was 
comprehended  in  that  expressive  word,  &  that  the  return  of 
terrestrial  Paradise  could  be  no  more  than  the  influence  of 
that.  It  is  the  basis  of  friendship  -  -  miserable  is  that  self 
interested,  nominal  Friendship  which  attempts  to  exist  with 
out  it  -  It  is  the  foundation  of  all  that  pleasure  which  we 
experience  from  social  intercourse,  &  the  extent  of  that 
happiness  which  the  social  Hour  affords,  must  be  in  propor 
tion  to  our  wishes  &  endeavours  to  make  each  other  happy  - 
Is  it  not  surprizing  then  Betsy  that  so  little  of  it  exists  —  cer 
tainly  it  is  a  feeling  which  in  itself  is  an  internal  resource  of 
Happiness  to  us  -  -  naturally  tends  to  make  others  happy  - 
&  again  increases  our  own  happiness  from  the  pleasure  of 
making  &  seeing  them  so  -  Imperfect  as  we  find  it  at 
present  to  exist,  even  the  worst  of  us  revere  the  persons  who 
are  possessed  of  it  --  they  are  never  the  objects  of  our  Envy 
—  tho'  they  shine  with  a  peculiar  Splendor  amid  the  baseness 
of  the  world.  -  Happy  in  the  happiness  of  others,  the 
benevolent  person  never  feels  the  Shafts  of  Envy,  or  the 
stings  of  those  malevolent  passions  which  marr  our  joys  & 
debase  the  natural  dignity  of  our  species  —  All  the  softer 
passions  of  the  Soul  grow  &  flourish  in  so  rich  a  soil  as 
Benevolence  -  All  the  Joys  of  friendship,  Sympathy  & 
Love  flow  mingled  forth  from  so  rich  a  source  -  Our 
benevolence  naturally  leads  us  to  enter  as  much  as  possible 
into  the  feelings  of  those  around  us  -  -  we  rejoice  in  their 
joys  &  thus  redouble  them  we  suffer  with  them  in  their 
afflictions  &  thus  by  our  sympathy  taking  a  part  in  them,  we 
lessen  their  Burden,  while  the  consciousness  of  having  obeyed 
the  dictates  of  humanity  in  doing  it  &  the  pleasure  we  expe 
rienced  at  the  time  made  us  the  more  happy  than  we  should 
have  been  had  we  not  had  the  opportunity  of  suffering  with 
them  in  their  distress,  &  lessening  the  burden  of  it.  - 

Very  intimately  connected  with  kind  wishes  are  kind 
actions  -  -  when  we  really  wish  well  to  others  -  -  we  are 
naturally  led  to  do  them  all  the  good  offices  in  our  power, 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  253 

&  there  are  a  1000  acts  of  this  kind  which  a  beneficent  per 
son  may  do  without  the  least  injury  to  himself  yet  materially 
connected  with  the  happiness  of  others  —  The  pleasures  of 
sociability  allmost  all  spring  from  benevolent  sources  -  -  tis 
true  we  may  have  selfish  motives  in  entering  the  social  Circle 
-  These  Gentlemen,  I  know,  frequently  have  when  they  join 
the  Circle  of  the  fair  -  -  yet  these  selfish  motives  will  induce 
them  to  wish  &  make  the  Circle  happy  that  they  may  enjoy 
it.  This  is  the  most  sordid  kind  of  Benevolence  I  own  &  such 
as  I  hope  may  never  taint  that  which  arises  amid  the  more 
soft  &  finer  feelings  of  the  female  Heart  -  It  is  to  them, 
Betsey,  we  look  for  patterns  to  immitate  in  the  exercise  of 
so  amiable  a  Virtue,  as  this,  which  blends  so  many  of  the  finer 
feelings  which  are  peculiar  to  the  delicate,  the  tender  emo 
tions  of  a  Ladies  Heart  -  Nature  has  given  us  each  our 
part  to  play  upon  her  extensive  stage  -  -  these  tender  scenes 
she  designed  for  the  part  of  those  whose  delicacy  is  fitted 
for  them  -  The  Ladies  act  them  with  a  feeling,  with  a 
peculiar  grace,  &  with  that  soft  &  amiable  tenderness  which 
excites  the  sympathy  of  the  man  &  subdues  that  fortitude 
which,  had  I  time  this  evening  to  write  to  Chloe  upon  her 
favorite  Theme,  I  might  perhaps  be  disposed  to  confine  in 
some  measure  to  the  Gentlemen,  as  being  better  suited  to 
their  make,  their  manners,  their  disposition  their  design.  - 
The  late  Hour  must  excuse  the  part  which  might  have  been 
written  upon  so  pleasing  a  subject,  but  you  may  assure  your 
self  that  in  the  exercise  of  all  the  benevolence  I  possess  I  am 

your  sincere  friend 

SBDW" 

If  such  a  missive  could  have  been  appropriately  written  to 
any  prospective  sister-in-law,  it  certainly  could  not  have 
gratified  the  taste  of  Miss  Betsey  Sherman.  It  was  as 
ponderous  as  she  was  lively.  One  gets  some  notion  of  how 
she  looked  and  acted  about  this  time  from  a  letter  of  a  college 
classmate  to  Mr.  Baldwin,  written  from  Norwich  a  few 
months  later. 


254  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

Simeon  Breed  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Norwich  July  ioth  1788  - 
Dear  Baldwin  - 

Your's  pr  Mr  Sherman  rec'd  — 

Fortunately  a  Party  of  Pleasure  down  the  River  gave  me 
an  opportunity  to  see  both  him  &  his  Sister;  otherwise  I 
fear  I  should  have  been  able  to  pay  them  no  part  of  the  atten 
tion  that  you  wished  -  I  am  obliged  by  your  introduction  of 
them  to  me  -  I  find  Betsey  to  be  a  fine  Girl  .  .  Were 
the  traces  of  my  former  Attachments  worn  out  of  my  heart 

•  I  somewhat  suspect  I  should  strive  that  we  might  be 
Brothers  in  reality  as  well  as  Brothers  in  Unity  &  Phi  Beta 

Kappa  -          

.  .  "To  return  to  Mr  Sherman  &  his  Sister  -  -  I  am  very 
sorry  they  tarry  so  short  a  time  with  us  -  -  Am  sorry  like 
wise  that  their  particular  acquaintance  are  at  such  a  distance 
from  the  Landing  -  I  have  still  some  remains  of  a  spirit 
of  Gallantry  -  But  not  so  great  as  to  make  me  neglect 
Business  &  post  two  or  three  miles  to  obtain  a  few  smiles 
from  some  handsome  faces  that  I  may  never  see  again  - 

I  should  have  been  happy  to  have  had  a  few  from  Betsey 
-  Had  I  a  little  more  leisure  &  opportunity,  I  should  have 
tried  hard  to  obtain  them  -  -  for  they  are  peculiarly  pleas 
ing — 

I  am  unfailingly  —    thine  ever— 

Sim  Breed  — " 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  more  successful  in  writing  to  men  than 
to  women.  His  correspondence  with  friends  had  been  made 
to  serve  him  as  a  school  of  literary  practice,  and  where  to 
both  him  who  wrote  and  him  who  received  this  was  a  com 
mon  purpose,  the  mind  was  stimulated  by  it,  if  the  heart  was 
not.  He  acquired  a  way  of  rounding  out  his  periods,  and 
expatiating  on  moral  and  philosophical  subjects,  which  gave 
to  the  few  of  his  "love  letters"  which  have  been  preserved 
too  much  of  a  studied  and  formal  character.  One  of  them 
is  as  follows : 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  255 

April  1 6th  1786  Sunday— Eve- 
Be  not  alarmed  dear  Becca  at  opning  a  Letter  under  my 
Seal  &  Signature ;  the  contents  are  as  harmless  as  they  are 
senseless  —  But  what  reason  have  I  to  write  you'll  say  — 
upon  my  word  I  have  no  other  reason  or  excuse  than  to  tell 
you  the  reason  In  short  that  is  to  be  the  foolish  subject  of 
my  Epistle  —  tis  not  to  extol  your  Virtues  to  the  skies  —  to 
make  you  an  Angel,  a  Goddess,  the  wonder  of  the  world  & 
the  pride  of  Heaven,  tis  no  such  thing  —  Those  unmean 
ing  expressions  never  sullied  the  writing  or  disgraced  the 
Pen  of  the  true  admirer  —  they  are  unnatural  to  your  Friend ; 
you  shall  never  have  them  from  me  —  I  hope  if  I  have  friend 
ship  I  have  sincerity  &  that  my  Friends  will  measure  the  one 
by  the  other.  But  I  am  wandering  from  my  subject  —  tis 
no  more  than  the  simple  narration  of  where  I  am,  what  I 
am  about  &  what  I  am  thinking  of  —  The  force  of  habit  is 
peculiarly  strong  in  evry  body  —  and  nothing  which  is  not 
attended  with  absolute  pain,  gives  more  uneasy,  more  dis 
agreeable  feelings,  to  any  person  than  when  the  course  of 
those  habits  are  interrupted.  —  methinks  I  hear  you  say  — 
"Sir  you  are  long  in  coming  to  the  point  you  proposed"  —  be 
contented,  Sterne  would  have  been  as  long  again  —  And 
besides  there  is  many  times  a  peculiar  pleasure  in  keeping 
the  mind  in  suspense  —  it  is  necessary  if  the  matter  to  be 
communicated  is  of  no  importance  —  and  it  is  no  less  neces 
sary  if  the  matter  is  so  important,  that  it  will  likely  affect  the 
mind  of  the  person,  too  sensibly  —  to  whom  it  is  communi 
cated  —  in  the  one  case  all  the  pleasure  consists  in  raising 
the  passions  to  the  anticipation  of  something  great  —  in  the 
other  Case  to  prevent  the  Effects  of  too  sudden  effusions  of 
Joy  or  Grief  it  is  equally  necessary  to  excite  the  Anticipa 
tion  in  such  a  manner  that  it  may  prevent  the  consequence 
of  a  too  sudden  shock  The  Mind  is  so  formed  that  it  will 
support  much  both  of  Joy  &  Grief  provided  the  passions  are 
kept  in  unison  &  are  led  to  the  weight  by  Degrees.  Tis 
with  them  as  with  the  strings  of  a  musical  Instrument,  Strain 
them  gradually  &  they  may  be  brought  to  almost  any  Key  — 
do  it  at  once,  &  ten  to  one  but  they  snap  —  This  peculiar 
faculty  of  keeping  the  mind  in  continual  suspence,  ever 


256  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

anticipating  a  1000  times  more  than  comes  has  rendered  the 
writing  of  Stern  so  agreeable  —  He  has  digression  upon 
Digression  in  the  relation  of  a  very  simple  story  -  -  &  when 
you  have  got  it  -  -  you  would  think  it  in  itself  not  worth  a 
relation  or  the  trouble  of  hearing  from  any  other  person  — 
yet  you  would  find  yourself  agreeably  entertained  by  the 
innumerable  little  annecdotes  which  interspersed  it.  — 

Now  my  subject  is  not  one  of  those  insignificant  ones, 
which  depend  solely  for  their  Glee  on  anticipation  tho  I  know 
you  are  capable  of  anticipating  much  and  possibly  if  your 
mental  feelings  were  highly  roused,  you  might  experience 
some  pleasure  in  having  those  expectations  entirely  disap 
pointed.  -  nor  is  my  subject  of  so  much  importance  that 
I  need  the  slow  progress  of  your  feelings  to  prevent  the  injury 
which  might  affect  the  delicacy  of  your  nervous  system.  I 
know  it  is  the  part  of  prudence  to  manage  all  our  matters 
with  the  Ladies  with  circumspection  -  -  we  must  look  round 

-  suspect,  expect  &  regard  a  thousand  other  aspects  in  all 
our  maneuvres  with  them  -  -  and  ten  to  one  then  after  all 
but  we  excite  their  Jealousy  -  -  and  there  are  no  weeds  in  the 
world  more  difficult  to  eradicate  yn  those  which  arise  in  the 
Garden  of  Frindship  from  such  seeds  - 

My  Habit  -  -  then  (for  I  am  now  coming  to  the  point 
before  I  scrabble  all  over  my  paper)  has  been  for  some  time 
to  spend  this  Evening  of  the  week  with  my  nearest  Friend; 
dont  mistake  me  -  -  I  mean  not  that  the  pleasure  which  arises 
from  the  company  of  my  friend  is  merely  from  Habit  — 
but  that  it  should  be  on  this  Evening  of  the  week  rather  than 
any  other  is  entirely  so  -  Convenience  may  lead  us  to  the 
habit,  &  tis  Custom  that  makes  it  painful  to  break  over  it  - 
not  that  the  Sermons  of  the  priest  contain  any  necessary 
Lessons  for  the  sociability  of  kindred  Souls  in  private  con 
ference  which  cannot  be  practised  on  any  other  Day  - 

The  fact  was  Becca  I  did  not  intend  to  have  troubled  you 
again,  to  receive  the  friendly  communications  of  your  friend 

-  (for  I  never  wright  Love  or  Lover  on  paper)   But  the 
presence  of>a  grave  Judge  -  -  two  venerable  matrons,  &  a 
numerous  family  overawed  me  -       I  retired  to  my  Chamber 
—  took  my  Book  read  &  reread  &  knew  not  a  sentiment. 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  257 

* 

I  threw  it  down,  &  where  am  I,  said  I.  my  answer  was,  this 
Man  is  a  compound  Being  —  made  up  of  Body  &  Soul  — 
the  one  movable  by  slow  Degrees  the  other  liable  to  be  hunted 
by  the  rapid  flight  of  a  swift  winged  fancy  -  -  the  presence 
of  both  is  necessary  to  complete  the  machine  -  -  the  one  I 
am  sensible  is  present  -  the  other  I  know  not  where,  you 
can  guess  as  well  as  I  -  -  but  wherever  they  are  now  They 
are  much  with  the  friend  of  your  friend  -  there  is  not  room 
enough  to  write  my  name." 

During  the  ensuing  College  vacation,  on  Sunday,  May  14, 
1786,  he  writes  Miss  Sherman,  who  was  then  visiting  Miss 
Pitkin  in  Farmington,  another  four-page  letter,  from  which 
the  following  extracts  are  made : 

"A  female  Book-worm  or  Philosopher  are  harsh  names, 
they  are  grating  to  a  modern  Ear  -  -  but  I  am  persuaded  that 
the  delicacy,  the  sensibility  &  the  naturally  easy  manners  of 
those  who  are  by  nature  the  most  amiable,  would  ever  pre 
vent  the  opprobrious  Names  being  affixed  to  them  let  their 
Attainments  be  ever  so  great  —  Those  names  were  made 
for  the  rough  manners  of  our  Sex  whose  Scholastic  Rust 
contracted  in  the  Cloisters  of  their  lamp-lighted  Study  form 
a  proper  substance  for  those  impressions  which  the  fashion 
able  world  are  pleased  to  call  the  Brand  of  Infamy  - 

Never  Becca  was  man  collecting  this  Rust  faster  than  your 
friend,  upon  my  word  -  -  I  believe  I  shall  hardly  be  knowable 
by  the  end  of  Vacation  -  -  shut  up  all  Day  -  -  &  Day  after 
Day  in  the  lonely  cloisters  of  my  Chambers,  where  I  have 
scarcely  heard  the  footsteps  of  Mortals  since  I  saw  you  - 
So  lonely  and  so  still  in  my  apartment  that  even  the  frightful 
Phantoms  --  and  ghastly  Spirits  which  terrify  the  Timorous 
durst  not  enter  them  - 

But  in  such  a  situation  I  have  many  advantages  I  disturb 
nobody,  and  in  return  nobody  disturbs  me  -  I  can  do  as  I 
please  &  nobody  knows  it  -  I  have  travelled  on  the  wings 
of  the  historian,  over  most  of  the  Empire  of  the  antient 
Romans  •  I  have  entered  unseen  the  Palaces  of  the 
Tyrants,  where  I  beheld  with  Horror  in  the  course  of  their 


258  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

ambition  &  thirst  for  power  their  plots,  their  Treasons,  their 
Murders  and  their  Deaths  — "  ....  "This  is  a  drole 
Subject  Becca  for  a  love  Letter,  but  I  believe  will  be  as 
durable  &  as  like  to  find  you  as  Love  itself  —  for  there  is 
nothing  more  difficult  to  fold  up  &  confine  in  a  Letter  than 
the  warm  expressions  of  a  tender  Heart  -  -  I  am  sensible 
that  the  studed  Gallant  could  find  a  1000  pretty  things  to 
say  upon  the  Beauties  of  a  Ribbon  --  the  elegance  of  a  Head 
Dress  or  the  sublimity  of  a  new  fashioned  Cap  -  Such  a 
one  I  know  would  laugh  at  the  Idea  of  turning  over  the  rusty 
Volumns  of  Antiquity  &  calling  up  events  that  have  been 
buried  in  oblivion  for  more  than  a  Thousand  Years  -  but 
I  know  to  whom  I  write  and  that  is  my  excuse  --  the  Trouble 
it  has  given  me  to  write  it  is  very  little  &  for  you  to  read  it 
will  not  be  much  more  so  that  if  you  do  not  like  it  very  little 
will  be  lost  - 

I  know  but  little  of  domestic  occurrances  -  -  Betsey  can 
better  inform  you  of  them  -  this  I  believe  I  shall  send  by 
Mr  Daggett;  he  expects  to  be  supremely  happy  in  the  Com 
pany  of  his  Wealthy  to  Hartford  on  the  morrow  -  we  wish 
to  know  how  the  climate  of  Farmington  suits  New  Haven 
Constitutions  and  whether  a  Satiety  of  Happiness  has  given 
you  a  Disposition  to  return  —  if  so  your  humble  Serv*  will 
stand  ready  to  escort  you  -  -  make  my  Love  if  you  can  spare 
any  to  all  the  Miss  Pitkins  —  &  tell  me  how  are  matters  with 
P.  &  N.  do  they  make  Love  by  rule  -  I  can  write  no  more, 

but  SBDW." 

One  of  the  College  Tutors  at  that  time  was  Jedidiah  Morse 
(Yale,  Class  of  1783),  who  had  already  published  at  New 
Haven,  while  studying  for  the  ministry  as  a  resident  grad 
uate,  what  proved  to  be  the  first  of  a  long  series  of  important 
geographical  studies.  In  prosecuting  these  he  made  a  jour 
ney  Southward,  towards  the  close  of  1786,  and  was  asked 
by  Miss  Sherman  if  he  would  not  let  her  hear  from  him  on  his 
travels.  This  he  promised,  and  it  resulted  in  the  following 
letter,  in  which  Mr. evidently  stands  for  Mr.  Baldwin : 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  259 

Charleston  Jany  4*,  1787. 

Jealousy,  Miss  Becca,  forms  no  part  of  the  character  of 
the  Young  Attornies  in  New  Haven.  They  generally  possess 
noble,  catholic,  &  liberal  Minds,  particularly  Mr.  -  I 

am  under  no  apprehensions,  therefore,  of  fulfilling  a  kind 
of  half  promise  I  made,  that  I  would  write  you.  An  unex 
pected,  tho  agreeable,  detention  in  this  place,  &  a  direct  con 
veyance  by  Mr  Prescott,  afford  me  opportunity  of  executing 
the  pleasant  task. 

There  is  an  obvious  &  I  think  beautiful  trait  in  the  char 
acter  of  the  Young  Ladies  &  Gentlemen  in  N.  England  which 
I  find  is  in  a  great  measure  peculiar  to  them  —  it  is  that 
friendly,  familiar,  &  obliging  (if  I  may  so  express  it)  Inter 
course  whh  happily  subsist  between  them.  This  inex 
haustible  source  of  refined  happiness  is  hardly  known  South 
of  Philadelphia  &  in  its  greatest  perfection  seems  to  be  limited 
to  New  England.  Perhaps  I  shall  be  thought  partial  —  but 
I  think  I  am  not  -  -  I  have,  as  far  as  possible,  laid  aside  all 
prejudice  in  favor  of  my  native  State.  I  have  endeavoured 
to  Judge  impartially.  Between  Philadelphia  &  Charleston, 
the  young  Ladies  &  Gentlemen  have  nothing  to  boast  of  — 
in  whatever  point  of  light  we  view  them.  The  Ladies  (with 
a  few  exceptions)  are  not  what  we  call  polite,  easy,  agree 
able  in  their  manners  —  but  are  tinctured  with  hughtiness 
&  a  kind  of  contemptuous  indifference.  They  are  not  hand 
some,  nor  delicate,  nor  captivating.  They  think  themselves 
under  no  obligations  to  a  Gentleman  who  shews  them  the 
ne  plus  ultra*  of  Politeness  -  -  &  yet  they  are  not  affronted 
at  being  neglected.  Nothing  is  more  common  than  for  the 
Gentlemen,  when  they  have  waited  on  the  Ladies,  upon  a 
party  of  pleasure,  to  leave  them  at  the  place  rendezvous,  & 
go  to  a  horse  race,  if  there  should  happen  to  be  one,  or  to  the 
Gaming  table  —  &  think  no  more  of  the  Ladies,  leaving  them 
to  get  home  as  they  can,  —  At  this  neglect  the.  Ladies  take 
no  offence  —  because  they  think  that  a  taste  for  horse  racing 
&  Gaming  indicates  a  Man  of  Spirit.  And  such  a  Gallant 
with  them  always  has  the  preference.  I  was  unfortunate 
enough  to  have  for  my  Company,  60  miles  in  the  stage,  four 
Ladies,  the  ton  of  Virginia,  You  may  well  suppose,  I  put 


260  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

my  best  foot  foremost.  I  went  to  the  ne-plus-ultra  of  my 
politeness.  I  cheerfully  gave  them  my  seat,  as  I  was  entitled 
to  the  first  in  the  Stage  —  I  helped  them  out  of  the  Stage  & 
in  again  repeatedly  with  as  much  activity  &  gentility  as  I 
was  Master  of  —  I  paid  them  every  attention  in  my  power.  - 
I  even  proceeded  so  far  as  to  give  one  of  them  an  Apple 
because  she  was  sick  &  wanted  it.  —  &  will  you  believe  me, 
not  a  thankful  word  of  gratitude,  not  even  a  look  of  appro 
bation,  did  I  obtain.  Add  to  this,  what  you  will  scarcely 
believe,  notwithstanding  they  knew  my  profession,  they  con 
stantly  wounded  my  ears,  with  profane  Oaths.  -  Two  of 
them,  even  exceeded  the  Gentlemen  who  were  their  com 
panions  in  the  Stage.  - 

Far  different  are  the  Ladies  in  Charleston  -  -  they  are 
delicate,  amiable  &  obliging.  -  perfectly  easy  &  polite  in 
their  behaviour,  yet  it  is  not  customary,  as  in  New  Haven, 
for  Gentlemen  to  gallant  the  Ladies  -  -  they  are  generally 
seen  walking  the  streets  with  a  Servant  only.  -  It  would 
be  reckoned  forward  in  a  single  Lady  to  invite  a  Gentleman 
to  Tea.  - 

Make  my  Compliments,  if  you  please,  to  your  sisters,  & 
the  good  Ladies  of  my  acquaintance  in  New  Haven,  & 
believe  me 

to  be,  with  great  Sincerity  your 

friend  J.  M. 
Miss  Becca  Sherman." 

*  Pardon  the  expression  —  You  breath  a  Latin  Atmosphere. 

The  easy  flow  of  Mr.  Morse's  style  shows  that  all  young 
men  in  that  generation  did  not  become  didactic  and  formal 
when  they  wrote  to  young  women. 

Before  opening  his  office  in  New  Haven,  Mr.  Baldwin 
visited  his  sister,  Mrs.  Colton,  in  Tolland  County,  and  while 
there  wrote  this  letter  to  Miss  Sherman: 

"Somers    Septr  24th  1786 

My  first  object  —  Dear  Becca  —  is  to  write  you  a  Letter 
&  then  I'll  send  it  if  I  can  —  I  was  at  Tolland  last  Week, 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  26  r 

attended  the  Court  in  that  County  3  Days  found  brother 
Carter  there  before  me  from  N  Haven  his  object  I  suppose 
is  the  lawyers  Oath  —  by  him  I  propose  to  send  this  if  he 
is  not  gone  when  I  return  to  Tolland  —  which  will  be 
to-morrow  —  I  came  to  this  place  last  Fryday  —  found  my 
friends  in  health  &  glad  to  see  me,  I  propose  a  Day  or  two 
more  at  Tolland  from  thence  go  to  Norwich,  make  a  short 
Visit  there  &  return  as  soon  as  I  can  to  the  Circle  of  my 
friends  at  New  Haven  —  There  you  know  I  am  to  seek  & 
try  my  fortune  &  the  fortune  of  my  friend. 

I  wrote  you  last  Week  from  Middletown,  perhaps  you  have 
received  my  scrawl  if  not  I  discharged  my  Duty  for  I  wrote 
&  inclosed  it  to  a  worthy  friend  of  us  both,  Mr  Fitch  -  The 
general  subject  of  it  I  do  not  remember;  but  this  I  recollect 
that,  before  I  had  done,  I  stumbled  upon  this  that  the  Study 
of  human  Nature  and  the  Knowledge  of  it  was  necessary  for 
the  fair  Sex.  I  acknowledge  it  was  a  singular  Theme  espe 
cially  for  a  Letter  of  that  kind  of  which  it  might  be  presumed 
ours  would  be  -  -  but  however  improper  the  Subject  at  this 
time  or  when  I  wrote  before,  (for  I  know  of  nothing  in  our 
own  Intimacy  or  in  the  Circumstances  of  our  Connexions  & 
friends  which  would  naturally  lead  me  to  it  — )  yet  I  must 
adhere  to  the  truth  of  the  Observation.  The  importance  of 
female  Education  &  of  attention  to  their  manners  has  lately 
been  attended  to,  with  laudable  Zeal  &  happy  Success  —  We, 
especially  Lovers,  do  not  think  them  Cyphers  in  Creation  or 
as  having  no  share  in  promoting  the  general  felicity  &  hap 
piness  of  Mankind  -  Much  of  this  certainty  depends  on 
our  happy  Connexion  with  them  •  there  is  something 
peculiar  in  the  softness  the  Delicacy  &  the  pure  friendship 
of  that  Sex  which  is  calculated  on  purpose  to  happyfy  ours 
—  Oh  that  our  Moroseness  —  bluntness  &  &cs  of  disagree 
ables  in  our  Sex  could  be  meliorated  to  the  same  effect  in 
yours  —  what  it  is  that  the  Ladies  find  in  us  which  makes  us 
so  far  tollerable  I  can  not  tell  - —  certainly  it  is  not  untill  after 
we  are  polished  by  the  soft  hands  of  the  fair  that  we  are  the 
most  acceptable  even  to  our  own  Companions,  —  The  Ladies 
then  have  committed  to  their  care  the  perfecting  &  com- 
pleating  one  half  of  the  noblest  part  of  Creation  —  &  in 


262  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

that  way  of  making  them  happy.  To  do  this  to  the  best 
advantage  will  be  of  essential  service.  They  must  learn  the 
Strings  by  which  Delila  like,  they  can  lead  about  &  controul 
the  morose  Samsons  of  America  —  can  soften  their  Rage  — 
inspire  them  with  Courage  or  reanimate  their  drooping 
Spirits,  when  dull  by  the  fatigues  of  ye  Day,  to  the  pursuit  of 
laudable  attainments,  &  the  Business,  peculiar  to,  &  proper 
for,  the  hardiness  of  Man  -  In  short  they  can  lead  the  Man 
-  by  their  inchanting  power,  whom  the  priest  tells  them  in 
accents  of  Thunder  they  must  obey  —  to  those  requests  which 
it  would  be  their  Interest  -  -  their  wish  &  their  happiness 
to  comply  with  &  obey.  — 

Strange  that  the  secret  cannot  be  kept  that  shows 

that  human  Nature  is  the  same  now  (that)  it  was  in  the 
Days  of  Samson  -  -  he  told  the  un( discover) able  Secret  & 
the  fatal  knowledge  proved  his  ruin.  That  sameness  makes 
the  study  easy,  -  -  part  of  it  is  obtained  from  those  Books 
which  delineate  it  handsomely,  but  much  more  from  obser 
vation  as  we  see  it  put  in  practice. 

Tolland    Septr  25*  1786 

I  enclose  you  this  in  a  line  to  Brother  Morse  &  send  both 
by  Mr  Carter  who  will  probably  be  at  N  Haven  before  me  — 
I  purpose  to  set  out  for  Norwich  tomorrow,  which  will  be 
Wednesday,  shall  be  back  at  N  H  to  receive  the  Happiness 
which  the  small  Circle  of  my  friends  can  give  me  —  about  the 
middle  of  next  Week,  till  when  &  as  long  as  you  please  I  am, 
Dear  Becca,  your  Affection  friend 
Miss  Rebecca  Sherman  S  B  D  W" 

It  is  evident  that  she  had  felt  that  he  regarded  her  as  not 
well  skilled  in  psychology.  However  this  might  be,  he  plainly 
thought  that  she  was  none  too  liberal  in  her  expressions  of 
affection  for  him.  This  produced  the  following  letter  written 
in  New  Haven  and  addressed  to  her  in  New  Haven.  One 
cannot  but  think  that  his  evening  would  have  been  better 
spent  in  a  call  at  her  house,  and  the  opportunity  for  a  few 
frank  words  of  reassurance : 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  263 

"New  Haven  Dec  10,  1786  in  ye  Evening 
Dear  Miss 

There  are  a  1000  things  which  tend  to  the  Happiness  of 
Man  which  from  supervenient  Causes  he  cannot  perform  — 
He  must  then  be  miserable  indeed  if  he  has  neither  Phi 
losophy  to  support  him,  nor  internal  resources  for  a 
Substitute. 

I  dont  believe  there  is  a  situation  in  Life  into  which  a 
person  can  be  thrown  where  he  will  so  frequently  need  the 
Assistance  of  one  or  other  of  these  as  that  of  a  Lover.  — 
Their  Happiness  depends  on  numerous  Contingencies  -  It 
is  many  Time  more  than  annihilated  by  a  frown  -  -  Tis  raised 
to  Rapture  by  a  Smile  -  Do  Ladies  believe  this  ?  -  -  no  — 
if  they  did  their  features  would  always  be  smiling  —  their 
Goodness  &  their  Benevolence  would  always  shine  con 
spicuously  thro'  their  Countenances  -  My  Philanthropy 
would  wish  to  others  as  little  Cause  of  Complaint  as  I  find 
in  myself  and  the  Impressions  I  feel  are  certainly  as  Strong, 
if  the  Expressions  I  make  are  not  as  numerous,  as  the  favours 
I  receive  -  for  the  first  (the  Impressions  I  feel)  you  must 
either  take  my  word,  or  as  a  Physiognomist  learn  them  from 
the  Index  of  the  Heart  -  -  for  the  Heart  has  an  Index  & 
those  Impressions  are  made  upon  the  Heart  -  -  for  the  last 
(my  Expressions)  I  do  not  speak  it  as  a  matter  of  Boast, 
that  they  are  just  as  numerous  &  just  as  large  &  just  equal 
to,  the  favours  I  have  received  -  T  do  not  consider  Love 
as  any  way  connected  with  Merchandize  -  -  or  the  Inter 
changes  of  Lovers  any  way  similar  to  the  equal  weights  & 
measures  of  Barter.  Love  is  an  anomalous  something  —  It 
cannot  be  reduced  to  rule  -  It  flies  in  the  face  of  all  Cal 
culation  -  -  The  Philosopher  may  Love  -  -  but  he  cannot  tell 
how  -  -  He  expresses  it  in  ten  thousand  ways  but  he  cannot 
tell  why  -  The  roughest  Peasant  sometimes  has  a  portion 
of  it  -  -  he  is  softened  to  refinement  without  Art  or  Instruc 
tion  &  feels  a  pleasure  unknown  before  in  the  rural  scenes 
around  him  -  Sweet,  powerful  Impulse  of  Nature!  for 
such  I'll  name  thee  -  Thou  must  vanquish  the  victorious 
Hero  &  triumph  over  the  Laurels  he  has  won  —  Touched 
by  thee,  the  Statesman  forgets  the  Intrigues  of  Party,  & 


264  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

the  Monarch  languishes  on  his  majestic  Throne  -  Who 
then  can  be  to  blame  for  indulging-  this  Passion  so  universal 
to  Sensibility  --  Certainly  we  are  not  to  blame  for  possessing 
it  -  -  we  are  only  answerable  for  our  Conduct  under  the 
Influence  of  it  -  If  rightly  used,  the  felicity  &  refinement 
of  our  Nature  depend  upon  it  -  If  that  is  true,  &  it  cannot 
be  denied  or  disputed,  surely  a  small  portion  of  the  time 
devoted  to  it,  &  some  way  or  other  employed  in  keeping  alive 
the  flame  is  not  mispent,  for  our  Refinement  &  Happiness  are 
among  the  grand  objects  of  our  Existence 

Thus  far  Love  is  interesting  as  it  appears  to  be  only  self 
ish  -  -  but  to  a  benevolent  mind  it  will  appear  more  amiable 
when  viewed  as  of  a  social  Nature  -  -  As  such,  it  delights  in 
the  Happiness  of  Objects  around,  &  in  communicating  it, 
especially  to  those  where  (it)  finds  a •  Complacency  -  But 
in  one  thing  it  appears  wonderful  -  -  that  by  giving  a  part  of 
itself  to  increase  the  Happiness  of  others,  it  never  diminishes, 
but  always  increases,  &  the  more  the  Happiness  of  others  is 
increased  by  the  Love  which  the  Lover  imparts,  so  much  the 
more  the  Love  &  the  Happiness  of  the  Lover  is  increased  - 
Love  then  &  be  Happy  in  yourself  &  Happyfy 

Your  Humble  Servant 

S  B  D  W  " 


A  few  months  later  he  felt  that  his  position  at  the  bar  had 
become  such  as  to  justify  his  marriage  and  this  took  place  on 
Sunday  evening,  July  29,  1787. 

Roger  Sherman,  during  that  summer,  was  attending  the 
Constitutional  Convention  at  Philadelphia,  but  an  adjourn 
ment  of  that  body  from  Thursday,  July  26,  to  Monday, 
August  6,  permitted  him  to  be  present  at  the  wedding, 
though  only  by  traveling  on  Sunday.5 

The  first  formal  greeting  to  the  bridegroom  was  this  note 
in  Latin,  from  Tutor  Abiel  Holmes : 

5  New  Haven  Gazette,  II,  183,  193. 


Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage  265 

"Domine  Baldwin. 

"Sit  hie  dies  auspicatissimus  tibi,  dilecte  Amice,  ac  suavi 
tuae  Conjugi!  Sit  nuptiale  vinculum  maxime  jucundum,  et 
nihil,  praterquam  mors  --  sera  mors  --  dirumpat. 

Sic  optat 
Sic  sperat 

A.  Holmes 
July  3oth  1787."' 

A  week  after  his  marriage  (on  August  5,  1787),  Jedidiah 
Morse  wrote  him  from  Philadelphia: 

"This  evening  I  called  on  your  honorable  Father-in  law 
-  who  gave  me  such  Data  as  left  me  to  conclude  that  you  are 
at  present  very  happy.  I  really  believe  you  are  so,  and  give 
you  most  cordially  all  joy  on  the  occasion.  My  heart  is  full 
of  good  wishes  too  for  Mrs  B — n's  happiness  —  your  amiable 
partner  &  my  friendly  Correspondent  -  Pray  tender  her, 
in  the  best  manner  you  can,  (&  you  can  do  it  in  the  best 
manner  possible)  my  more  than  Complin^.  -  -  you  may  give 
them  what  name  you  please." 

Mr.  Baldwin  hastened  to  apprise  his  old  friend,  Rev. 
Henry  Channing  of  Newport,  of  his  marriage,  who  replied 
thus: 

"New  London,  August  17th  1787. 

My  warmest  congratulations  await  you  my  Friend  & 
Brother.  May  happiness  refined  and  lasting  be  the  kind 

6  Sir  Baldwin 

May  this  day  be  most  auspicious  to  thee,  beloved 
Friend,  and  to  thy  kindly  wife!  May  the  nuptial  bond  be  most 
pleasant,  and  nothing  sunder  it  but  death  —  a  late-coming  death  - 

So  hopes 
So  wishes 

A.  Holmes 
July  30,  1787. 


266  Choice  of  a  Profession,  and  Marriage 

allotment  of  Heaven  to  you  &  your  amiable  other  self.  — 
Your  Letter  communicated  its  enthusiasm  to  my  breast  & 
made  me  wish  to  hasten  &  be  happy.  —  But  I  find  that  it 
must  not  yet  be  —  all  things  are  not  yet  ready  —  Yet  I  am 
happy  —  yes ;  my  friend,  the  period  of  courtship  is  a  much 
happier  period  than  I  once  supposed.  -  -  Some  suppose  that 
our  greatest  happiness  here  is  the  prospect  of  some  good  not 
possessed.  You  seem  by  your  last  truly  animated  letter,  to 
think  differently  —  'Marry  &  be  happy/  —  You  are  in  your 
honey  moon,  my  brother  -  -  therefore  you  may  be  allowed  to 
be  thus  sanguine;  yet  I  must  think  cooly  -  I  expect  a 
chequered  scene  in  life  yet  am  not  moved.  I  have  had 
already  a  large  portion  of  happiness  &  my  present  prospects 
promise  as  much  to  come;  but  I  hope  to  be  prepared  for  the 
reverse,  not  by  anticipating  evil;  but  by  moderating  my 
expectations  —  You  are  the  Philosopher  &  when  the  Moon 
is  past  you  will  probably  be  better  able  to  advise  your  friend 
—  but  you  must  not  attempt  to  philosophize  me  out  of  matri 
mony  —  Indeed  I  think  that  there  is  not  much  probability 
even  of  the  attempt,  but  should  you  attempt  it  I  think  it  would 
be  without  success." 


CHAPTER  VII 
LIFE  AS  A  PRACTICING  LAWYER  FROM  1786  TO  1806 

Mr.  Baldwin  entered  the  bar  without  any  natural  clientage 
in  New  Haven  County.  He  had  no  blood  connections  there; 
no  business  backing;  and  but  a  trifling  capital  to  lean  on 
at  the  start.  During  the  next  year  his  marriage  brought  him 
ties  with  the  Sherman  and  Prescott  families. 

New  Haven  was  well  supplied  with  lawyers,  older  than  he, 
and  knowing  more  of  modes  of  practice  in  the  different  lines 
of  the  profession.  One  or  two  of  them  had  so  many  stu 
dents  in  their  offices,  as  to  make  them  in  effect  small  law 
schools.  Wherever  a  law  school  is  situated,  there  is  found 
an  abnormal  proportion  of  lawyers  to  the  total  population. 
Many  of  the  inhabitants  send  their  sons  to  such  a  school, 
who  would  feel  quite  unable  to  bear  the  expense  of  a  legal 
education  at  some  distant  place.  There  will  also  often  be 
law  students  who  come  from  other  States,  and  remain  to 
practice  their  profession  where  they  learned  it.  Such  an 
one  was  David  Daggett,  born  in  Massachusetts,  who  studied 
law  under  Charles  Chauncey  of  New  Haven.  Admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Connecticut  in  January,  1786,  at  the  same  time 
with  Simeon  Baldwin  (as  stated  in  Chapter  VI),  he  at  once 
opened  an  office  in  New  Haven  and  early  rose  to  prominence, 
first  as  a  lawyer  and  then  as  a  statesman  and  judge.  Another 
was  Pierpont  Edwards,  coming  also  from  Massachusetts, 
who  opened  a  law  office  in  New  Haven  in  1771,  and  had 
acquired  what  was  probably  the  largest  practice  in  Connect 
icut  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  bench  in  1806. 

There  were,  towards  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
a  hundred  and  twenty  attorneys  in  Connecticut.  Morse,  in 


268       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

his  "American  Universal  Geography/'  says  that  this  was 
"a  very  great  proportion  for  the  real  exigencies  of  the 
people/'  yet  that  "from  the  litigious  spirit  of  the  citizens, 
the  most  of  them  find  employment  and  support."  Too  many 
of  the  people,  he  adds,  are  idle  and  dissipated,  and  much  time 
is  unprofitahly  and  wickedly  spent  at  taverns,  in  law-suits, 
and  petty  arbitrations/'1 

It  was  seldom  that  any  large  amounts  were  in  litigation. 
There  were  no  large  establishments,  and  no  great  fortunes. 
The  richest  man  whose  estate  had  been  settled  in  New  Haven, 
up  to  1819,  had  been  worth  not  quite  $60,000. 

The  number  of  lawyers  in  the  State  of  New  York  entitled 
to  practice  in  its  highest  courts  was  smaller  than  that  of  the 
corresponding  class  in  Connecticut,  and  there  was  also  a 
much  heavier  volume  of  business  for  them  to  handle.  As 
late  as  1783,  out  of  120  licensed  attorneys  in  New  York, 
there  were  but  sixteen  engaged  in  active  practice  at  the  bar 
of  the  highest  courts  at  Albany,  with  all  of  whom  Mr. 
Baldwin  became  acquainted.2 

Mr.  Baldwin,  a  few  years  later,  thus  expressed  to  his  friend 
Kent  his  regret  that  he  did  not  remain  at  Albany: 

"I  have  frequently  lamented  that  I  did  not  attend  enough 
to  my  own  advantage  when  I  could  have  tarried  &  probably 
have  pursued  my  professional  employment  there  —  A  bubble 
brought  me  back  &  local  attachments  bind  me  here." 

New  Haven  was,  in  1787,  a  particularly  attractive  place 
to  a  man  of  any  literary  tastes.  It  had  been  incorporated 
as  a  city,  three  years  before.  Connecticut,  at  this  time,  was 
considered  a  center  of  letters.  Mr.  Baldwin,  writing  to 
Gen.  Ten  Broeck  of  Albany,  in  November,  1783,  thus  alludes 

1  London  ed.  of  1792,  230;  Am.  ed.  of  1796,  Part  I,  463,  473,  506. 

2  S.  W.  S.  Button,  Sketch  of  the  Life  and  Character  of  Hon.  Simeon 
Baldwin,  p.  9. 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       269 

to  it,  after  mentioning  his  recent  appointment  as  a  tutor  at 
Yale: 

"There  are  many  Circumstances  in  this  Situation  which 
makes  it  very  agreeable,  tho'  not  Lucrative. 

The  passion  for  Literature  in  this  State  is  to  be  sure  more 
extensive  than  in  yours  —  Perhaps  we  educate  quite  as  many 
of  our  Youth  as  the  finances  of  Society  will  support  in  the 
professional  employments  Yet  I  must  think  it  a  glorious 
Prospect  in  a  republican  Gov.nt  where  merit  is  the  criterion 
of  Eminence  to  see  the  emulous  youth  studious  to  recommend 
themselves  by  this  to  the  confidence  of  their  Countrymen. 

It  has  been  with  peculiar  pleasure  I've  seen  the  same  Senti 
ments  encouraged  by  many  worthy  Characters  in  the  State 
of  N  York." 

New  Haven  was  then  remarkable  for  the  large  proportion 
of  its  citizens  who  had  received  a  collegiate  education. 
There  were  55  of  these  in  the  original  list  of  the  freemen  of 
the  city,  numbering  343,  as  made  up  in  February,  I784.3 

The  new-born  city  promised  also  to  become  and  indeed  then 
was  a  place  of  commercial  importance.  It  was  to  be  a  free 
port  until  June  i,  1791.  By  its  charter,  foreigners  and  citi 
zens  of  other  States,  admitted  by  the  freemen  or  the  select 
men  and  justices  of  the  peace  of  the  town,  could  reside  there 
without  being  taxed  more  heavily  than  citizens;  and  firms 
of  which  at  least  one  member  was  a  resident,  importing 
annually  from  Europe,  Asia  or  Africa  goods  of  those  coun 
tries  to  the  amount  of  £3000  were  exempt  from  taxes  on  their 
profits  "so  far  as  the  Revenues  of  this  or  the  United  States 
are  interested  therein/'4 

It  had  already  a  considerable  foreign  trade;  there  being 
ihirty-three  vessels  owned  there,  which  were  engaged  in  it. 
One  of  these  was  a  ship  of  300  tons. 

3  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  109. 

4  Stat.,  Rev.  of  1784,  268. 


270       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

There  were  over  fifty  shops  in  the  city,  half  a  dozen  of 
which  carried  a  stock  of  goods  worth  two  or  three  thousand 
pounds  sterling.5 

Here  in  September,  1786,  Simeon  Baldwin  entered  on 
the  practice  of  law. 

He  was  now  twenty-four  years  old,  -  -  a  handsome,  tall, 
well-built  man,  of  easy  address  and  quick  sympathies. 

His  year  at  Albany,  and  trip  to  New  Hampshire,  had 
broadened  his  acquaintance  with  the  usages  of  polite  society. 
His  service  as  a  tutor  had  added  both  to  his  scholarly  attain 
ments  and  his  knowledge  of  human  nature.  He  had  made 
warm  friends  and  deserved  them. 

He  had  many  qualities  which  would  be  useful  in  the  prac 
tice  of  law.  His  reasoning  powers  were  good;  and  they 
were  comprehensive.  His  ability  to  see  a  point  and  appre 
ciate  its  importance  was  marked.  His  manner  was  pre 
possessing.  He  was  painstaking  and  industrious.  He 
worked  hard  to  put  his  powers,  such  as  they  were,  to  the  best 
use. 

He  had  given  unusual  attention  to  the  cultivation  of 
literary  composition,  particularly  by  maintaining  a  regular 
correspondence  with  educated  and  intelligent  men.  We  can 
see  him  reflected  in  the  letters  which  they  sent  to  him.  He 
was  a  lovable  character.  He  was  not  bashful  or  diffident 
in  society.  He  was  not  pedantic.  As  a  public  speaker,  his 
sentiments  were  just,  and  his  manner  of  expressing  them 
direct  and  forcible.  He  cultivated  his  native  faculties  with 
care  in  all  directions.  He  kept  commonplace  books,  in  which 
he  entered  extracts  from  works  of  writers,  ancient  and 
modern ;  wise  sayings ;  chronological  historical  notes,  alpha 
betically  arranged ;  terms  of  science  and  art,  with  appropriate 
explanations;  and  drafts  of  some  of  his  letters  to  friends. 

5  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  128. 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       2  7 1 

In  one  of  these  volumes,  opened  while  he  was  a  college  stu 
dent,  he  jots  down,  what  seems  to  have  struck  him  as  a  novel 
doctrine,  an  observation  of  President  Stiles: 

"That  it  is  his  opinion  that  the  first  knowledge  of  the  Prin 
ciples  of  Phylosophy  &  Astronomy,  together  with  many  Arts 
&  Sciences,  were  first  given  to  the  Antients  by  Revelation." 

His  letters  contain  many  spirited  passages. 

In  one,  for  instance,  written  while  a  tutor,  he  says  that 

"before  we  declared  ourselves  independent,  it  was  almost  bold 
to  suppose  it  would  not  tarnish  the  Alphabet  of  Europe  to 
wrap  it  round  an  American  Idea." 

A  student  in  one  of  his  college  classes,  Dirck  Ten  Broeck, 
writes  him  thus  at  Albany,  in  1783: 

"A  true  friend,  a  longing  friend  can,  if  possible,  inform, 
from  experience,  the  pathetic  feelings,  the  agreeable  surprise, 
occasioned  by  the  receipt  of  your  kind  letter  —  as  I  judge 
yourself  to  be  a  Nisus  —  and  so  being  you  may  figure  to 
yourself  my  sentiments  —  consider  me  then,  walking  from 
Mother  Yales,  to  my  Museum  —  to  be  stopt  on  this  my  jour 
ney  —  by  a  stranger  —  accosted  thus  —  are  you  a  student  — 
yes  —  do  you  know  TenBroeck  —  why?  -  -  I  think  I've  a 
letter  for  him  -  -  I'll  give  it  to  him,  and  spare  you  the  trouble, 
I  think  I  know  him  very  well  —  the  letter  given  into  my 
hands,  you  may  suppose  was  soon  open'd  -  -  looking  from 
whom  it  came  —  just  with  a  squint,  saw  —  test.  S.  Baldwin 
—  being  put  into  my  Pocket,  was  soon  carried  with  myself, 
into  my  Chamber  -  -  after  reading,  and  not  'till  then,  was  I 
pursuaded,  that  it  came  from  my  friend  -  -  happy,  truly 
happy,  are  they,  who  have  a  friend,  but  happier  those,  who 
have  so  good  a  friend,  as  I  can  boast 

Perhaps  you  will  tax  me,  with  delay,  in  not  sooner  answer 
ing  your  letter,  believe  me,  I  wrote  as  soon  as  I  had  read  it  — 
but  have  not  been  able  to  forward  it  'till  now  —  your  letter 
is  almost  worn  out  —  so  often  do  I  read  it  —  I  never  can  read 


272       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

your   letters   too   often  -       be   asur'd   I    feel   as   happy   in 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from  you  -  -  as  the 
Lover  in  receiving  tender  words,   and  soothing  smiles  - 
from  his  dearest  object  -  -  how  I  long  to  grasp  your  friendly 
hand  --  and  ask  -  -  how  does  my  friend  to  day." 

One  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  warm  admirers  was  Stanley  Gris- 
wold  of  the  Yale  Class  of  1786,  who  had  studies  under  him 
as  a  tutor,  and  replies  thus  to  a  letter  sent  to  him  by  Mr. 
Baldwin  at  Norwich,  where  he  was  then  teaching  school: 

"Norwich,  27*  Jany  -  -  1787 
Dear  Sir  - 

That  Mississipi  of  pleasure  which  yours  of  ye  6th 
Inst.  caused  to  roll  through  my  soul  continues  yet  in  an  over 
flowing  condition  &  I  believe  will  never  be  asswaged.  To  say 
the  worst  of  that  letter  I  must  pronounce  it  the  most  instruc 
tive,  opportune  &  agreeable  one  I  ever  recd  I  sincerely 
thank  you  for  the  best  of  friendly  offices;  -  I  mean  your 
determination  not  to  flatter  me.  Had  you  observed  this  in 
every  expression  of  your  letter,  I  should  have  been  more 
happy ;  -  -  but  I  must  think,  you  forgot  me  as  a  friend,  when 
you  mentioned  that  'my  abilities  would  enable  me  to  shine  in 
any  profession/ 

I  am  fully  sensible  that  my  strains  to  you  have  ever  been 
servile;  -  -  but  since  the  native  freedom  of  every  American 
has  not  prevented  this  in  me ;  —  to  what  must  it  be  attributed? 
-  to  what  indeed,  but  that  idea  of  your  great  superiority 
which  I  can  testify  to  have  ever  existed  in  my  mind.  Sir, 
I  revere  you.  The  Omnicient  knows,  I  don't  mean  to  flatter. 
I  detest  the  character.  Not  to  enumerate,  -  -  suffice  it  to 
say,  that,  the  unusual  coincidence  of  circumstances,  which 
has  ever  attended  the  scene  of  our  acquaintance  from  first 
to  last,  has  made  out  that  idea  of  you,  which  I  have,  do  &, 
I  believe,  ever  shall  entertain. 

You  are  very  kind  in  offering  your  aid  as  a  consolatory 
friend.  I  thank  you.  Great  exertions  in  that  respect,  how 
ever,  I  think  will  not  be  needed,  as  our  school  has  of  late 
become  considerably  numerous.  Nothing  would  now  invite 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       273 

me  from  my  present  situation,  except  the  advantages  of  liv 
ing  in  N.  Haven,  or  some  such  motive.  This,  however,  I 
never  expect  to  be  so  happy  as  to  obtain,  while  I  am  so 
dependent  on  my  own  industry  for  getting  a  support.  If 
I  am  too  selfish,  pray,  attribute  it  to  the  necessitated  cir 
cumscription  of  nobler  views.  Concerning  the  professions 
I  acknowledge  the  justness  of  your  observations.  At  this 
day  the  practice  of  Law  is  entirely  forbidding;  -  -  but,  I 
think,  that  the  knowledge  of  its  principles  is  highly  inviting 
&  very  necessary  for  a  liberal  character,  whether  theological 
or  physical.  Such  a  character  I  have  proposed  to  ambition; 
-  but  whether  unfavourable  circumstances  will  not  finally 
clip  her  wings,  time  alone  must  unravel.  I  observe  our 
Priests  in  general  to  be  quite  too  stanch,  dogmatical  &  nar 
row  ;  -  -  I  mean,  with  respect  to  their  sentiments  of  men  and 
occupations.  To  conform  with  them  in  these  respects  would 
be  intolerably  irksome:  It  is  ignobly  base  to  depreciate  in 
the  Parish  &  crouch  in  the  City.  All  which  is  too  abundantly 
exemplifyed  at  general  Elections  &  Public  Commencements. 
I  wish  there  were  more  Doctor  Stiles's !  -  As  to  a  physician, 
I  conceive  it  to  be  more  pardonable  for  him  to  know  nothing 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  books:  -  -  but  in  them  the 
importance  of  his  profession  leaves  him  without  enough  in 
being  but  partially  versed.  The  study  &  exercise  of  a 
Physician  place  themselves  with  enticing  charms  before  me, 
while  nature  recoils  at  the  idea  of  spending  a  life  in  the 
house  of  distress,  &  of  growing  rich  in  proportion  to  the 
acuteness  of  pains  of  my  fellow-mortals.  -  -  Come  to  reflect 
tho',  -  -  this  may  be  urged  in  one  shape  or  other  against  all 
the  professions.  It  is  hard  to  discern  with  accuracy!  — 
I  think  I  now  see  the  truth  of  the  concluding  words  of  your 
Letter ;  -  -  which  are,  that,  'it  is  no  matter  which  we  engage 
in,  provided  we  —  are  actuated  by  those  motives  which  move 
the  Patriot,  the  Philanthropist  &  the  Christian/ 

No  news  this  way  but  good  health  &  Massachusettensian 
convulsions.  Powder  has  this  week  been  transported 
through  this  place  to  Springfield.  Massachusetts  must,  I 
think,  rue  the  fatal  consequences  of  Ignorance  which  prevails 
through  most  of  the  discontented  towns.  Next  to  that  of 


2  74      Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

serving  you  is  the  Pleasure  with  which  I  have  the  honor  of 
subscribing  myself 

Your  most  affecte  friend 
&  humble  ser* 

Stanley  Griswold." 

Mr.  Griswold  fulfilled  Mr.  Baldwin's  forecast.  After  a 
dozen  years  in  the  ministry,  he  became  the  editor  of  a  news 
paper  in  New  Hampshire,  a  Senator  of  the  United  States 
from  Ohio,  and  a  Judge  of  the  Northwestern  Territory. 

A  few  weeks  after  his  admission  to  the  bar,  Mr,  Baldwin 
prepared  a  scheme  for  a  sort  of  moot-court  club  of  the 
younger  lawyers  and  a  few  law  students  in  or  near  New 
Haven.  The  paper  is  in  his  handwriting  and  reads  thus : 

"New  Haven  March  6th  1786. 

We  whose  Names  are  underwritten  do  mutually  agree,  to 
form  ourselves  into  a  friendly  Society,  for  our  improvement 
in  the  knowledge  of  the  Law  -  -  and  do  pledge  our  Honour 
to  adhere  strictly  -  -  as  far  as  circumstances  will  permit  to 
the  following 

-  Rules  — 

1  That  we  all  meet  for  the  purposes  hereinafter  specified 
at  6  o  Clock  on  Fryday  Evening  of  each  week,  at  such  place 
as  the  meeting  —  from  time  to  time  shall  appoint. 

2  The  Exercises  shall  be  as  follows  —     Law  Questions 
with  all  the  legal  Forms  used  in  our  Courts  of  Justice  —  or 
Bills  bro't  before  the  Assembly  at  the  option  of  the  Dis 
putants  shall  be  discussed  by  four  Members  each  Evening 
untill  all  have  had  their  Turns     Those  who  do  not  dispute 
setting  as  Judges  &  giving  their  opinions  as  such.      The 
President  or  Chief  Judge  shall  be  chosen  from  among  them 
by  Nomination  —    When  they  have  thus  gone  round  —  one 
Evening  shall  be  set  apart,  for  an  Examination  of  the  whole 
upon  some  Branch  of  the  Law  previously  agreed  upon. 

3  Evry  Member  shall  make  a  formal  Draught  of  some  legal 
Process  used  in  our  Courts  —  such  as  an  Attachment,  Sum- 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       275 

mons,  Scire  facias,  Petion  &c  before  Tuesday  Night  of  each 
week,  whh  shall  be  interchanged  among  the  Members  &  each 
Member  shall  put  in  a  plea  or  take  Exceptions  to  that  which 
he  receives  &  have  them  ready  to  be  read  at  the  opening  of 
the  next  meeting. 

4  The  first  Meeting  shall  be  at  Mr  Baldwins  Chamber  on 
Fryday  the  ioth  Inst.  where  all  shall  be  examined  by  Mr 
Goodrich  in  the  first  Vol.  of  Blackstones  Commentaries.  - 

Abm  V.  H  DeWitt  C.  Goodrich 

Dyer  White  Matthew  T.  Russell 

Saml.  Whittelsy  Enoch  Perkins 

Simeon  Baldwin 
D.  Daggett 
N.  Rossiter 
J.  Leavitt 
Barna.  Bidwell 
Peter  DeWitt 

Of  the  signers  of  this  scheme,  Abraham  Van  Horn  DeWitt 
(Yale,  Class  of  1785)  was  practicing  law  in  Milford;  Russell 
(Yale,  Class  of  1779)  and  Perkins  (Yale,  Class  of  1781) 
were  then  College  Tutors,  and  intended  to  settle,  the  former 
in  Middletown  and  the  latter  in  Hartford;  Rossiter  (Yale, 
Class  of  1785)  was  practicing  in  Guilford;  Leavitt  (Yale, 
Class  of  1785)  and  Bidwell  (Yale,  Class  of  1785)  were 
studying  law  under  Charles  Chauncey,  not  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  until  a  considerably  later  date;  and  Peter  DeWitt 
(Yale,  Class  of  1799)  came  to  College  as  a  Junior  in  1797, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  New  York  in  1803.  This 
last  signature  was  probably  made  in  1799,  and  indicates 
that  the  "friendly  society"  was  still  in  existence  at  that  time. 
It  had  presumptively  become  reduced  in  membership  to  Mr. 
Chauncey  and  the  students  in  his  office,  of  whom,  in  1800, 
he  had  six,  part  of  whose  instruction  took  the  form  of  moot 
courts. 


276       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

One  of  the  first  suits  in  which  Mr.  Baldwin  was  retained 
was  against  one  Ephraim  Fenno  of  Middletown  for  a  debt 
due  to  a  Mr.  Clark.  He  got  judgment  on  it  early  in  1787 
and  at  last  succeeded  in  collecting  the  execution  in  full.  To 
do  this  he  went  to  Middletown  to  receive  the  final  payment 
due.  While  there,  at  Mr.  Fenno's  invitation,  he  stopped 
part  of  a  day  at  his  house.  He  offered  on  leaving  to  pay 
for  the  entertainment,  but  Mr.  Fenno  declined  to  accept 
anything  for  it.  Not  long  afterwards,  however,  Mr.  Fenno 
drew  on  him  for  three  shillings  and  one  penny,  as  the  price 
of  what  he  had  received,  and  he  paid  that  amount  to  the  man 
who  presented  the  draft,  following  it  up  with  this  letter, 
which  shows  that  he  could  be  angry  on  proper  occasion : 

"New  Haven,  Feby  13  1788 
Mr  Ephm  Fenno 

Sir 

I  this  Day  received  the  very  unhandsome 
open  Billet  &  order  whh  you  sent  me  by  Mr  Starr  -  I  have 
paid  its  Contents  &  taken  his  Receipt  —  But  altho  you  have 
Age  on  your  side  —  &  respect  is  due  to  the  aged,  when 
accompanied  with  those  Virtues  whh  are  becoming  a  Man 
of  your  Years  —  yet  Sir  I  have  the  Independence  to  despise 
every,  little,  mean  transaction  in  whomsoever  I  perceive  it  — 
And,  be  assured  Sir,  I  have  not  paid  the  Money  because  I 
was  afraid  of  a  suit  —  I  know  you  could  not  recover  it  of 
me  —  but  I  despise  the  Idea  of  taking  advantage  of  this  — 
or  of  being  beholden  to  a  man  whose  Conduct  in  this  Trans 
action  is  so  contemptable  — 

Let  your  own  Conscience  answer  you  this  —  Did  not  I 
offer  to  pay  for  my  entertainment  when  at  your  House? 
You  know  I  did  —  &  that  your  answer  was  this,  that  I  had 
been  at  so  much  Expence  in  coming  twice  to  Middletown 
for  the  money,  you  had  so  long  owed  me,  that  you  would 
receive  nothing  for  my  entertainment  at  your  House  —  I 
urged  it  upon  you  &  you  refused  —  And  is  it  acting  like  a 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       277 

man  of  Honour  or  Integrity  to  ask  it  now  &  in  the  manner 
you  have  —  I  am  surprised  at  it  Mr  Fenno,  I  did  not  think 
it  of  you  — 

You  say  too  that  I  have  collected  the  money  without  Mercy, 
favour  or  Affection  -  Let  your  Conscience  answer  these 
further  questions  whh  I  will  propose  to  it  —  Has  not  this 
money  been  due  to  Clark  more  than  16  months?  You  know 
it  has.  Did  not  I  obtain  Jud*  more  than  a  year  ago  in  his 
favour?  -  -  You  also  know  I  did.  Did  not  you  promise  the 
Money  to  me  in  Sepr  last  if  I  would  come  to  Middletown? 
you  did  -  Did  I  not  wait  a  month  after  your  Note  became 
due  before  I  sued  it?  I  did  —  After  I  had  obtained  Jud* 
against  you  -  -  did  not  the  Exn  once  run  out  upon  your 
promise  that  it  should  be  paid  in  the  Life  of  it?  —  It  did  — 
did  you  not  know  that  this  Debt  has  long  since  been  assigned 
over  to  a  Gentleman  in  Norwich  who  liberated  Clark  from 
Gaol,  by  paying  his  Debts  on  the  prospect  of  receiving  this, 
Months  ago  ?  You  did  for  I  told  you  -  -  Upon  those  facts 
I  have  not  a  word  to  say  to  shew  on  which  side  Mercy,  favour 
or  Affection  ought  to  have  been  shewn.  The  Law  has  had  its 
course  &  you  have  vented  your  spleen  —  I  have  sent  your 
demand  of  3/1  —  which  you  have  taken  so  much  pains  to 
shew  to  the  world  I  have  never  paid  you,  &  (however  you 
may  disregard  it)  I  have  sent  with  it  the  Contempt  of 

Simeon  Baldwin." 


During  the  year  1787  Mr.  Baldwin  began  to  receive  young 
men  into  his  office  as  law  students,  a  practice  which  he  kept 
up  for  many  years.  Generally  they  also  boarded  with  him. 
Among  the  first  were  Jeremiah  Mason  (Yale,  Class  of  1788), 
Dor  ranee  Kirtland  (Yale,  Class  of  1789),  and  Edward  Dorr 
Griffin  (Yale,  Class  of  1790).  Mason,  afterwards  of  Bos 
ton,  was  long  one  of  the  leaders  at  the  New  England  bar. 
He  soon  became  satisfied  that  Connecticut  was  not  an 
attractive  place  for  the  practice  of  law,  and  left  the  State 
to  study  where  he  intended  to  settle.  This  was  Vermont  and 


2  78       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

he  writes  thus  to  Mr.  Baldwin  from  Westminster,  January 
5,  I79i: 

"I  shall  continue  in  the  humble  station  of  Clerk  in  Col. 
Bradley' s6  office  &  how  long  I  shall  the  Lord  only  knows  - 
Perhaps  till  next  Spring  &  perhaps  longer.  It  is  a  fixed 
opinion  of  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Bar  in  this  State  that  a  man 
cannot  Legally  acquire  any  legal  knowledge*  only  while 
breathing  the  pure  air  of  Vermont  -  Our  Northern  world 
is  rapidly  rising  in  consequence  in  our  own  view  at  least  - 
Politicians  &  Politicks  are  in  such  plenty  among  us  that  it  is 
thought  advisable  to  open  a  free  trade  with  the  United  States 
that  we  may  have  the  benefit  of  exportation  The  proposals 
made  by  the  Commissioners  of  New  York  to  this  State  you 
have  doubtless  seen  -  Our  convention  sits  this  week  to 
adopt  the  Constitution  -  A  weak  opposition  will  ('tis  said) 
be  made  -  The  Assembly  will  meet  next  week  when  agents 
will  be  chosen  to  negotiate  with  Congress  concerning  the 
admission  of  this  State,  &  Senators  chosen  to  take  a  seat  in 
the  Senate  Chamber  as  soon  as  permitted." 

In  an  autobiographical  sketch  contained  in  the  Memoir  of 
Jeremiah  Mason,  which  was  privately  printed  in  1873,  ne  thus 
refers  (pages  15,  17)  to  the  beginnings  of  his  legal  studies: 

"I  soon  went  to  New  Haven,  entered  Mr.  Baldwin's  office, 
and  lived  in  his  family.  Then,  as  at  the  present  time,  very 
little  instruction  in  the  course  of  study  was  given  in  a  private 
office.  I  spent  a  year  in  Mr.  Baldwin's  office  reading  pretty 
diligently.  My  time  passed  pleasantly;  I  had  access  to  very 
good  society.  He  married  a  daughter  of  the  celebrated 
Roger  Sherman  and  lived  near  him.  He  had  a  family  of 
children,  —  some  near  my  age.  I  was  often  at  the  house, 
and  very  frequently  saw  Mr.  Sherman.  His  reputation  was 

then  at  the  zenith." 

The  State  of  Connecticut  was  overstocked  with  lawyers; 
most  of  them  had  but  little  business,  with  fees  and  compensa- 

6  Stephen  R.  Bradley,  LL.D.  (Yale,  Class  of  1775). 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       2  79 

tion  miserably  small.  The  professional  income  of  Pierpont 
Edwards,  supposed  to  be  the  largest  in  the  State,  was  said  not 
to  amount  to  two  thousand  dollars  a  year.  Very  few  obtained 
half  that  sum ;  my  master  Baldwin,  with  his  utmost  diligence, 
was  scarcely  able  to  maintain  his  small  family,  living  in  the 
most  simple  manner.  Seeing  the  host  of  needy  young  law 
yers,  some  with  clever  talents,  seeking  business  with  little  or 
no  success,  I  soon  became  satisfied  that  my  prospect  was 
exceedingly  unpromising.  The  common  opinion  was  that 
the  prospect  for  success  was  much  better  in  the  neighboring 
States.  In  most  of  the  States  at  that  time,  to  entitle  a  per 
son  to  admission  to  the  bar,  a  term  of  study  within  the  State 
was  required.  After  maturely  balancing  the  pros  and  cons,  I 
came  to  the  conclusion,  in  the  Fall  of  1789,  that  it  was  best 
for  me  to  quit  Connecticut/' 

Among  those  who  studied  law  in  Mr.  Baldwin's  office  in 
later  years  were  Benjamin  Silliman  (Yale,  Class  of  1796), 
and  his  brother-in-law,  Roger  Sherman,  2d  (Yale,  Class  of 
1787),  who  soon  turned  from  it  to  mercantile  life,  and  was 
for  many  years  a  member  of  the  shipping  and  importing  firm 
of  Prescott  &  Sherman,  on  Long  Wharf  in  New  Haven. 

In  the  summer  of  1787  he  was  employed  by  William 
Moseley  (Yale,  Class  of  1777)  of  the  Hartford  bar,  to  com 
plete  for  him  a  manuscript  form  book,  which  he  had  recently 
prepared,  with  a  view  to  its  use  in  instructing  a  student  in 
his  office.  It  required  many  alterations  and  an  index.  The 
work  was  of  a  kind  that  it  pays  a  young  lawyer  to  do  for  his 
own  improvement,  and  he  received,  in  February,  1788,  £3, 
6  shillings  for  his  services,  the  largest  single  fee  that  had 
yet  come  in. 

While  waiting  for  business,  he  also  received  a  little  money 
for  tutoring  young  men  needing  further  preparation  for 
college  than  they  had  yet  received.  On  December  7,  1787, 
President  Stiles  sent  a  South  Carolinian  youth,  Stephen 
Elliott,  who  had  applied  for  admission  to  the  College  but  was 


280       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

deficient  in  Greek  "to  Mr.  Baldwin  for  three  months  further 
instruction  in  that  language,  for  which  he  was  to  pay  five 
shillings  a  week/'  He  made  such  progress  that  two  months 
proved  sufficient,  and  after  that  period  he  was  admitted  as 
a  Freshman.7 

A  young  lawyer  is  prone  to  feel  somewhat  discouraged 
at  the  small  amount  of  business  which  finds  its  way  to  his 
office,  and  still  more  at  the  length  of  time  apt  to  elapse 
between  doing  a  piece  of  legal  work  and  getting  his  pay  for 
it.  He  begins  with  no  book  charges,  and  his  first  year's  cash 
receipts  are  seldom  a  fair  measure  of  that  year's  earnings. 

During  the  year  1789,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  made  City  Clerk, 
holding  that  office  till  1800. 

.His  business  showed  a  substantial  growth  in  1789,  which 
was  continued  in  1790.  In  that  year  appears  among  his 
cash  receipts  a  prize  of  £2,  us.,  drawn  in  a  New  York 
lottery,  his  ticket  in  which  had  cost  him  £i,  ics.  His  total 
income  was  £115,  5d.,  and  he  spent  £118,  155.,  2d. 

He  now  was  to  have  aid  from  his  family  connections  in  the 
shape  of  their  influence  towards  securing  him  an  office. 

On  September  24,  1789,  while  Roger  Sherman  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  lower  House  of  Congress,  the  Judiciary  Act  was 
passed,  settling  the  jurisdiction  and  organization  of  the 
courts  of  the  United  States,  and  the  President  promptly  sent 
in  nominations  for  the  Judges,  which  were  as  promptly  con 
firmed.  The  position  of  Judge  of  the  District  Court  for  the 
District  of  Connecticut  went  to  Chief  Judge  Law  of  the 
Superior  Court,  who  lived  in  New  London.  Congress 
adjourned  September  29,  and  on  October  3  Sherman  wrote 
to  Judge  Law,  informing  him  of  his  appointment  and  adding : 

"Your  honor  will  have  the  appointment  of  a  Clerk  who 
must  reside  at  Hartford  or  New  Haven.  Simeon  Baldwin, 

7  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  291 ;  Dexter,  Yale  Biographies,  4th 
series,  704. 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       281 

Esq.,  of  this  city,  with  whom  you  are  well  acquainted,  would 
execute  the  office  well,  and  I  believe,  to  good  acceptance,  if 
he  should  be  appointed.  If  your  honor  shall  think  fit  to  con 
fer  that  office  on  him  the  favor  will  be  gratefully  acknowl 
edged  by  him,  and 

Your  sincere  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Roger  Sherman/' 

Judge  Law  soon  afterwards  appointed  Mr.  Baldwin  clerk 
of  the  District  and  Circuit  Courts,  and  he  held  these  places 
until  1806. 

From  June  to  October,  1791,  he  also  held  the  place  of  a 
local  Collector  of  Revenue  under  the  internal  revenue  laws 
of  the  United  States,  but  the  pay  was  so  small  that  he  did  not 
care  to  continue  longer  in  that  office. 

His  cash  account  soon  assumed  a  more  cheering  appear 
ance.  On  January  I,  1792,  he  made  an  inventory  of  his 
property.  It  comprised  £150  in  book  accounts;  £86  in 
promissory  notes;  £170  in  Continental  and  State  notes;  and 
£20  in  cash,  subject  to  a  reduction  of  £10  for  small  debts 
which  he  owed.  This  amounted  in  all  to  £416. 

A  few  months  later  (May  2,  1792)  his  father  died,  and 
his  share  of  the  estate  gave  him  something  more.  On  Jan 
uary  i,  1793,  he  estimated  that  he  was  worth,  irrespective 
of  this  little  patrimony,  £602. 

His  father  left  him  his  share  and  a  half  in  the  Susquehanna 
purchase  in  Pennsylvania.  Each  share  represented  a  right 
to  six  hundred  acres.  The  best  of  the  land  was  then  worth 
only  about  two  shillings  and  sixpence  an  acre.  He  located 
his  right  in  the  town  of  Bachelor's  Adventure. 

He  now  stopped  taking  any  boarders,  except  an  occasional 
family  or  personal  friend,  who  wished  to  spend  a  few  days 
in  New  Haven;  and  began  to  invest  his  surplus  earnings. 
His  first  large  purchase  was  that  of  the  house  which  had 


282       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

been  occupied  as  his  residence  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards, 
D.D.,  until  he  resigned  his  pastorate  of  the  church  in  the 
White  Haven  Society  of  New  Haven.  This  he  bought  in 
1795.  It  was  a  roomy,  old-fashioned  house,  with  a  large 
garden  around  it  of  about  an  acre  in  extent.  A  sketch  of 
the  house,  taken  from  the  rear,  faces  this  page.  This  was 
his  future  residence  through  life.  He  paid  $2,500  for  it, 
and  for  the  addition  of  an  adjacent  lot,  purchased  a  little  later. 

About  this  time  Simeon  Baldwin  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Friendly  Society, — a  secret  society  formed  in  New 
Haven  in  1781.  Its  Constitution  in  some  respects  was  like 
that  of  the  Junto,  of  Philadelphia,  framed  by  Dr.  Franklin. 
One  of  its  objects  was  the  mutual  assistance  of  each  other 
in  "whatever  may  concern  them  in  Counselling  &  advising 
Them,  and  any  other  Friendly  Acts  in  their  Power :  at  the 
same  Time  each  Member  shall  endeavor  at  all  Times  to  pre 
serve  the  Characters  of  the  Other  Members,  from  the  Mis 
chiefs  that  may  otherwise  arise  from  Falsehood,  Calumny, 
Envy,  Slander  &  Detraction." 

Originally  composed  of  seven,  new  members  were  elected 
from  year  to  year  to  the  number  of  twelve.  One  of  the  last 
chosen  was  Noah  Webster  (Yale,  Class  of  1778),  who  first 
took  up  his  residence  in  New  Haven  early  in  1798. 

The  principles  that  governed  Mr.  Baldwin's  practice  are 
well  illustrated  by  the  following  letter,  in  which  he  frankly 
admits  a  want  of  proper  care  for  a  client's  interest  and 
shoulders  the  resultant  loss: 

"New  Haven,  July  6,  1801. 
Messr  Samuel  &  Peter  Talman 

Gentn 

I   acknowledge   at   a  very   late 

hour  the  rec*  of  yours  of  the  24th  of  Mar.  by  Cap  Miles  my 
mortification  at  the  issue  of  my  indulgence  &  the  constant 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       283 

hope  of  giving  you  a  better  account  than  I  now  can  respect 
ing  the  debt  must  apologize  what  it  can.  — 

On  the  rec*  of  yours  I  immediately  called  on  Mr  Lynde  — 
he  promised  me  payment  in  a  few  days  &  assured  me  the 
alarm  arose  solely  from  the  failure  of  Heaton  his  former 
partner.  -  in  a  few  days  tho  at  longer  period  than  his  first 
proposal  he  brought  me  140  Dolr  -  -  &  gave  me  such  assur 
ances  respecting  the  remainder,  that  tho  I  had  prepared  an 
att*.  I  suspended  the  Service  &  on  my  return  to  Town  after  a 
few  days  absence  I  found  he  had  failed  &  was  shut  up  —  but, 
as  I  confess  it  is  probable  had  I  pressed  the  collection  imme 
diately  without  reliance  on  his  assurances  &  the  respectability 
of  his  connexions  -  -  I  should  have  obtained,  I  now  enclose 
the  balance  -  -  being  as  it  foots  Dol.  132  -  trusting  to  the 
faithless  Bankrupt  for  my  indemnification. 

I  will  thank  you  for  your  Rec1  of  the  sum  from  me  —  but 
that  you  would  not  credit  the  same  to  Lyde,  as  that  would 
frustrate  my  attempt  to  recover  the  balance  - 

I  am  with  respects 

Your  Ob1. 

S.  Baldwin 

His  business  was  now  a  solid  one,  though  his  earnings  seem 
small  as  compared  with  those  of  New  Haven  lawyers  a 
century  later.  The  following  bills  for  service  before  the 
legislature  and  the  City  Court  speak  for  themselves : 

"Dr  David  Tallman  &  Hezh  Clark  — 

in  a/c  with  S.  Baldwin.  — 
1802 

Ocf  G  A.     To  ret8  fee  on  Petn  respecting 

mines  Dol.     5. 

To  fees  on  hearing  in  both 

Houses  15. 

Dr  20.  oo 


284      Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

Dr  David  Tallman  in  a/c  with  S.  Baldwin  — 
1803 

Mar.     To  ret8  fee  Benoni  Hotchkiss  v  him  -  Dol.  3 
To  argg  Case  Manus  &  him  in  City 

C  twice  -  -  10 


13- 
E  E  — 


S.  Baldwin  Dr  33  -  ' 


On  January  i,  1800,  his  inventory  was  as  follows: 

Notes,  probably  good  2765.18 

Book  debts  "  iSS1^2 
Judgments  "          "    say  200.00 

4  shares  in  the  New  Haven  bank  600. 

10     "       N.  H.  Insurance  Co. 

ten  per  cent  paid  in  100. 

2       "        Litchfield    Turnpike    Co.  252. 

10     "       N.  H.  &  Hartford  " 

$16  per  share  paid  in  160. 

Homestead  2000. 
Miles  lot,  6  acres  200. 

Hamden  land  120. 

Paid  toward  cargo  in  the  "Hope"  375. 


$8103.00 

He  owned  one  thirty-second  of  the  ship  Hope  and  cargo. 
She  was  probably  controlled  by  Prescott  &  Sherman. 

Every  year  now  told  the  story  of  new  savings  and  new 
investments.  One  line  of  his  business  was  the  handling  of 
funds  or  property  for  others.  James  Hillhouse  was  one  of 
those  who  employed  him  in  this  way,  and  often  would  have 
a  balance  in  Mr.  Baldwin's  hands  of  $1,000  or  more.  Occa 
sionally  the  account  would  go  the  other  way.  In  Mr.  Bald 
win's  inventory  for  January  i,  1803,  amounting  to  over 
$14,000,  one  item  is  $900,  for  money  due  from  Mr.  Hillhouse. 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       285 

His  practice  had  become  quite  extensive.  Clients  came 
from  all  the  surrounding  towns  and  also  from  Hartford, 
Litchfield,  Fairfield,  New  London  and  Middlesex  Counties. 
He  had  also  business  of  some  importance  from  New  York 
and  Philadelphia. 

In  December,  1801,  he  had  twenty-nine  cases  on  the  docket 
of  the  Superior  Court  and  in  November,  1802,  fourteen  on 
that  of  the  County  Court. 

In  1805,  soon  after  his  election  as  a  Representative  in 
Congress,  under  the  circumstances  mentioned  in  Chapter  X, 
he  received  a  letter  from  his  cousin,  Roger  Minot  Sherman 
(Yale,  Class  of  1792)  of  Fairfield,  offering  to  attend  to  such 
of  his  pending  cases  as  he  might  see  fit  to  intrust  to  him 
during  his  absence  at  Washington,  on  the  basis  of  an  equal 
division  of  the  fees.  Mr.  Baldwin  preferred  an  arrangement 
which  should  embrace  all  his  legal  business,  whether  in  or 
out  of  court,  and  concluded  one  of  this  nature  with  Charles 
Denison  of  New  Haven  (Yale,  Class  of  1796).  All  fees 
thereafter  earned  by  either,  before  the  expiration  of  Mr. 
Baldwin's  term  in  Congress,  were  to  be  equally  divided 
between  them,  and  the  business  was  to  be  conducted  in  Mr. 
Baldwin's  former  office. 

The  clerkship  of  the  District  Court  he  resigned,  on  the 
promise  of  Mr.  Denison  that  if  he  should  be  appointed  his 
successor,  he  would  in  turn  resign  when  Mr.  Baldwin's  term 
in  Congress  expired,  should  the  latter  then  desire  to  resume 
it.  Judge  Law  had  previously  intimated  his  assent  to  such 
an  arrangement. 

One  of  his  last  trials  before  going  on  the  bench  was  that 
of  several  young  men,  including  some  College  students,  and 
among  them  a  son  of  his  old  friend  David  Daggett,  who  were 
prosecuted  criminally  for  rioting  and  assault,  at  an  affray 
between  "town  and  gown"  in  the  early  part  of  1806.  The 
students  had  got  up  a  ball  at  "Bloomfield's  Assembly  Hall," 


286       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

and  one  or  two  of  them,  hearing  that  some  of  the  town  boys 
were  planning  to  make  things  uncomfortable  for  them,  went 
armed  with  pistols.  Several  more  had  clubs,  and  when  the 
disorder  commenced,  late  in  the  evening,  there  were  loud 
cries  for  the  College  Bully.8  Guy  Richards,  of  the  Senior 
class,  who  then  held  that  office,  flew  to  the  spot,  and  was 
immediately  knocked  down,  the  town  lads  crying  out,  "Here 
is  the  damned  bully,  that  has  dared  us  out  to  fight  so  often/' 
Blows  were  freely  exchanged,  and  it  was  finally  necessary 
to  read  the  Riot  Act. 

As  both  sides  were  shown  to  be  in  fault,  the  matter  quieted 
down,  when  the  lawyers  came  to  discuss  it,  and  Richards 
received  his  degree  with  his  class  at  Commencement. 

Mr.  Baldwin  did  not  give  all  his  working  time  to  legal 
study  and  practice.  He  ranked  well  among  those  of  his  age 
as  a  public  speaker,  and  his  services  in  that  line  were  often 
in  request. 

In  September,  1787,  occurred  the  first  anniversary  of  the 
founding  of  Phi  Beta  Kappa  in  Connecticut.  It  was  appro 
priately  celebrated  and  Mr.  Baldwin  delivered  what  proved 
to  be  the  first  of  a  long  series  of  orations  pronounced  before 
the  Society  at  the  annual  College  Commencements.  It  was 
in  praise  of  philosophy  as  the  guide  of  life.  It  was,  he 
admitted,  no  easy  task  for  philosophers  to  elevate  humanity. 

"(If  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression,  &  in  a  qualified  sense, 
I  may)  this  is  almost  the  only  part  of  Creation  wThich  the 
Supreme  Being  has  left  in  a  manner,  unfinished." 
We  come  into  the  world  equally  destitute  of  ideas.     A  small 
difference  there  may  be  in  the  powers  of  the  mind,  but  a  much 

8  Each  Senior  class  formerly  had  such  an  officer  of  justice  or  injus 
tice,  who  had  the  charge  of  a  formidable  club  known  as  the  Bully  Club. 
Yale  Book,  II,  460. 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       287 

greater  is  made  by  the  different  modes  of  cultivating  it." 

"The  4>  B  K  is  dayly  enlarging  —     New 

branches  spring  from  this  growing  stock,  that  they  may 
spread  the  influence  of  our  benevolent  Institution,  among  the 
good  &  virtuous  of  every  Country  -  This  Year,  Brothers, 
will  commence  the  ^Era  of  a  new  star  in  our  increasing  Con 
stellation  A  new  collection  of  Brothers  while  they 
improve  by  the  exercises  of  this  society  &  cherish  the  prin 
ciples  of  our  fraternal  Union,  will  rejoice  to  unite  with  us 
the  friendly  Hand  &  Social  Heart." 

The  new  star  was  the  Dartmouth  chapter,  which  had  been 
established  in  the  preceding  month  (August  30,  1787). 

On  July  4,  1788,  there  was  an  unusually  elaborate  cele 
bration  of  the  day  in  New  Haven,  on  account  of  the  ratifica 
tion  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  by  Virginia, 
of  which  news  had  arrived  the  day  before.  A  procession 
was  formed  a  hundred  and  twenty  rods  in  length  and  an 
oration  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Baldwin  in  the  Center  Church ; 
followed  by  a  public  dinner  at  the  State  House  attended  by 
about  a  hundred  and  fifty.9 

The  committee  of  arrangements  printed  the  address,  and 
apart  from  his  many  judicial  opinions,  it  is  the  only  piece 
of  literary  work  ever  published  in  which  he  is  named  as  the 
author.  It  occupied  a  little  over  half  an  hour  in  delivery 
and  went  over  the  history  of  republican  institutions  in 
America.  As  for  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  he  said 
that  "the  world  confessed  it  nobly  done,  and  Heaven  has 
ratified  the  deed." 

The  work  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1789  had 
not  yet  been  ratified.  He  deplores  the  fatal  weakness  of  the 
existing  Confederation. 

"The  nerves  of  the  whole  body  politic  should  concenter  in 
the  supreme  executive ;  and  the  great  council  of  the  nation, 

9  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  321. 


288       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806 

under  due  restrictions,  ought  to  command  the  purse  and  the 
sword ;  or  in  vain  will  they  wield  the  sceptre  of  government. 
To  what  purpose  should  a  legislative  enact  laws,  if  nobody  is 
obliged  to  obey  them?  To  what  purpose  make  contracts, 
which  they  can  never  fulfil?  To  what  purpose  remonstrate 
against  the  encroachments,  the  insults  .  .  .  the  abuses 
of  other  nations,  when  they  have  not  the  appearance  of 
power  to  oppose  them  ?  O  my  country !  thy  glory  hath  been 
tarnished  by  the  consequences  of  a  confederation  totally 
deficient  in  these  particulars.  The  resolves  of  that  illus 
trious  body  of  men,  who  form  the  nerveless  council  of  our 
union,  are  disregarded  at  home,  and  despised  abroad.  Our 
commerce  languishes.  Public  credit  is  no  more;  and  the 
glory  of  the  United  States  .  .  .  where  is  it?  It  expired 
with  that  patriotic  warmth  which  once  united  our  councils, 
opened  our  purses,  and  strengthened  our  arms  without  the 
force  of  law/' 

But  a  new  birth  of  the  nation  was  to  be  expected,  in  view 
of  what  had  been  done  in  Philadelphia.  The  members  of 
the  Convention  were  truly  the  representatives  of  the  people. 

"For  a  moment  turn  your  attention  to  that  venerable  body 
.  examine  the  characters  of  those  illustrious  sages, 
eminent  for  political  wisdom  and  unsullied  virtue 
see  them  unfolding  the  volumes  of  antiquity,  and  carefully 
examining  the  various  systems  of  government,  which  differ 
ent  nations  have  experienced,  and  judiciously  extracting  the 
excellence  of  each  .  .  .  listen  to  the  irresistible  reasons 
which  they  urge  .  .  .  mark  the  peculiar  amity  which 
distinguishes  their  debates  .  .  .  hear  the  mutual  con 
cessions  of  private  interest  to  the  general  good,  while  they 
keep  steadily  in  view  the  great  object  of  their  counsels,  the 
firm  CONSOLIDATION  of  our  union  -  -  and  then  glory, 
Americans,  in  the  singular  unanimity  of  that  illustrious 
assembly  of  patriots,  in  the  most  finished  form  of  govern 
ment  that  ever  blessed  a  nation. 

By  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  all  the  essential 
rights  of  freemen,  and  the  dignity  of  individual  States  are 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1786  to  1806       289 

secured.  The  people  have  the  mediate  or  immediate  election 
of  their  rulers  ...  to  the  people  they  are  amenable 
for  their  conduct,  and  can  constitutionally  be  removed  by  the 
frequency  of  election.  While  the  voice  of  the  people  is  heard 
in  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  independent  sovereignty 
of  the  several  States  will  be  guarded  by  the  wisdom  of  the 
Senate,  and  the  disinterested  penetration  of  the  President  will 
balance  the  influence  and  prevent  the  encroachments  of  each." 

One  relic  of  barbarism,  Slavery,  leaning  on  the  slave  trade, 
remained. 

"Yes,  even  in  this  land  of  boasted  freedom,  this  asylum  for 
the  oppressed,  that  inhuman  practice  has  lost  its  horrors  by 
the  sanction  of  custom. 

To  remedy  this  evil  will  be  a  work  of  time.  —  God  be 
thanked  it  has  already  begun.  Most  of  the  southern  & 
middle  states  have  made  salutary  provision  by  law  for  the 
future  emancipation  of  this  unfortunate  race  of  men,  and  it 
does  honour  to  the  candour  and  philanthropy  of  the  southern 
states,  that  they  consented  to  that  liberal  clause  in  our  new 
constitution,  evidently  designed  to  abolish  a  slavery  upon 
which  they  base  their  riches.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  friend 
to  his  country  to  lead  his  fellow  citizens  to  rational  reflection 
upon  these  interesting  subjects,  to  abolish  as  much  as  pos 
sible  the  vices  peculiar  to  us  as  a  nation  and  as  individuals, 
and  to  disseminate  still  farther  those  principles  of  wisdom  and 
virtue  which  form  the  pillars  of  republican  government." 


10 


CHAPTER  VIII 
POLITICAL  ACTIVITIES 

Before  going  on  the  bench,  Mr.  Baldwin  had  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  politics  of  his  town  and  State.  He  was 
a  strong  Federalist  from  the  beginning  of  his  career  until 
the  party  bearing  that  name  ceased  to  exist.  He  served  early 
and  long  on  its  campaign  committees,  and  exercised  a  con 
siderable  influence  in  its  counsels.  He  had  able  men  to  work 
with.  In  1804  he  was  associated  on  the  State  Federalist 
Committee,  among  others,  with  Noah  Webster,  Enoch  Per 
kins  and  Theodore  Dwight. 

At  about  this  period,  the  following  confidential  circular, 
written  by  him,  was  sent  out  from  the  central  office  of  the 
party,  to  the  local  committee  in  each  town : 

"Inclosed  is  a  form  of  a  subscription  to  raise  a  fund  for  the 
promotion  of  the  circulation  of  federal-newspapers  &  pam 
phlets.  This  fund  is  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  general 
Conf*  who  are  in  the  first  place  to  promote  an  extensive 
circulation  of  one  principal  Newspaper  &  then  to  afford  such 
encouragement  to  other  good  newspapers  as  may  be  necessary 
&  consistent  with  the  state  of  the  funds  -  -  probably  as  much 
will  be  expended  in  your  County  as  will  be  raised  there.  - 

In  order  to  furnish  the  people  with  correct  information  of 
the  state  of  public  affairs  it  is  intended,  in  addition  to  such 
federal  papers  as  shall  be  subscribed  for,  to  distribute  gratis 
to  the  Inhabitants  of  every  town  in  this  State  such  number 
as  the  circumstances  shall  require.  - 

The  money  must  be  raised  from  Gentlemen  of  property 
and  liberal  minds  -  To  such  characters  you  will  be  pleased 
to  hand  the  subscription  individually,  or  call  a  meeting  of 
them  in  each  town  for  that  purpose  —  The  latter  mode  is 


P  o  litical  A  c  tivities  291 

perhaps  preferable  if  you  can  attend  to  the  business  person 
ally,  or  can  intrust  it  to  some  confidential  agent.  - 

You  will  be  pleased  to  obtain  accurate  information  of  the 
number  &  kind  of  Newspapers  now  taken  in  each  Town.  — 

Endeavor  to  promote  subscriptions  for  Hudson  &  Good 
win's  paper1  (which  will  be  the  principal  one)  &  such  other 
federal  Newspapers  as  have  usually  circulated  in  your  part 
of  the  Country,  &  to  report  what  number  &  whose  papers  it 
will  in  your  opinion  be  expedient  to  distribute  gratis  in  each 
town  in  addition  to  what  shall  be  subscribed  for.  - 

It  is  recommended  to  you  to  afford  all  the  aid  you  can 
procure  to  the  Editors  of  federal  Newspapers  in  your  County 
&  Vicinity,  in  addition  to  copious  extracts  from  Hudson  & 
Goodwin's  paper  which  it  is  thought  advisable  for  them  to 
make.  - 

The  Tone  of  the  papers  should  be  temperate  decent  & 
manly  --  the  stile  &  manner  of  political  disquisition  should  be 
plain  &  perspicuous,  &  they  should  not  be  of  tedious  length  — 
multwn  in  parvo  should  always  be  remembered.  — 

The  diffusion  of  correct  information  through  the  medium 
of  Newspapers  is  deemed  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance,  & 
to  effect  it  your  prompt  &  steady  exertions  are  required.  — 

You  will  be  pleased  to  confer  with  the  printers  of  Federal 
Newspapers  in  your  Neighborhood  -  Give  them  as  much 
information  of  the  general  arangements,  respecting  news 
papers  -  -  as  you  think  proper,  &  if  they  will  come  into  it, 
assure  them  they  shall  receive  a  proportionate  support  from 
the  general  Fund.  - 

You  will  take  particular  care  that  the  subscriptions  do  not 
get  into  the  hands  of  improper  persons,  &  that  the  written 
instructions  do  not  go  out  of  your  own  hands  on  any  occa 
sion. — " 


The  following  general  campaign  instructions  were  found 
among  his  papers  and  are  in  his  handwriting.  They 
indicate  that  he  was  a  shrewd  political  manager. 

1  The  Hartford  Courant. 


292  Political  A  ctivities 

Ist  That  the  Town  Committees  as  early  as  may  be,  pro 
cure  an  exact  List  of  all  the  Freemen  in  their  respective 
Towns  —  arranged  under  two  Heads  -  -  Federal  -  -  Demo 
cratic  —  This  they  should  keep  on  hand  &  as  new  freemen 
are  admitted  their  names  should  be  added.  -  The  number 
of  all  the  freemen  &  of  those  under  each  head  to  be  sent  as 
early  as  may  be  to  the  County  Committee,  that  a  return  of 
the  number  in  all  the  Towns  may  be  sent  to  the  State  Com66 

—  This  will  shew  the  strength  of  parties  in  each  Town,  & 
also  the  strength  of  parties  throughout  the  State,  &  it  is 
confidently  believed  that  the  federal  Interest  in  most  of  the 
Towns  &  in  the  State  will  be  found  more  powerful  than  is 
generally  supposed.     Let  this  consideration  be  an  incitement 
to  activity  &  preseverence.  — 

2d  —  The  Town  Com668  should  associate  with  themselves 
a  number  of  the  most  active,  sensible  &  judicious  men  in  their 
respective  Towns,  to  aid  them.  —  When  a  f  reemens  meeting 
approaches  the  Town  Com66  should  arrange  the  names  of 
all  the  federal  Freemen  in  their  respective  Towns  &  draw  off 

—  6,  8,  or  10,  names  on  a  slip  of  paper  requesting  some  one 
trusty  person  to  take  such  separate  List  &  engage  to  call 
on  each  man  named  upon  it  &  request  him,  laying  aside  all 
excuses  to  attend  freemens  meeting,  to  be  there  at  the  open 
ing  &  to  stay  &  vote  untill  the  business  of  the  Day  is  finished 

•  This  will  insure  us  an  increase  of  many  thousand  Votes 
The  necessity  of  it  therefore  should  be  earnestly  pressed 
upon  the  freemen  by  all  the  motives  which  the  nature  of  the 
case  furnishes.  - 

3  Nominations  &  the  names  of  those  in  nomination  who 
are  to  be  voted  for  at  the  particular  meeting,  either  for  the 
Council  or  for  Congress,  should  be  distributed,  to  the  free 
men  at  the  time  they  are  called  upon  to  attend  freemens  meet 
ing;  in  this  way  they  will  learn  the  general  arrangement,  & 
will  be  prepared  to  vote  alike  thro'  the  State.  — 

4th     The  Town  Com668  should  make  Lists  of  all  the  young 
men  in  their  respective  Towns,  who  are  or  may  be  qualified 
to  be  admitted  freemen  &  see  that  they  are  admitted.  - 
Seasonable  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  qualification  by 
Deed.  -      The  Law  requires  a  Deed  to  be  recorded  at  length 


Political  A ctivities  293 

four  Calendar  months  before  the  f reemens  meeting  -  The 
Town  records  should  be  examined  from  time  to  time  to  see 
if  any  fraudulent  attempts  are  making  by  pretended  con 
veyances  of  Land  to  qualify  new  Democratic  freemen.  - 

5th  The  Town  Com66  should  pay  particular  attention  to 
the  young  men,  that  are  coming  upon  the  stage,  that  they 
may  be  early  engaged  on  the  side  of  truth  and  sound  prin 
ciples,  &  that  they  may  be  guarded  against  the  errors  & 
delusions  of  Democracy  —  This  is  a  most  important  point 
&  requires  great  prudence  &  attention.  — 

6th  If  any  falsehood,  misrepresentation,  or  embarrassment 
should  exist  in  any  particular  Town  or  place  —  the  operation 
of  which  may  be  unfavorable  to  the  good  order  &  Gov*  of  the 
State  &  favorable  to  the  cause  of  Democracy,  early  infor 
mation  of  the  facts  &  circumstances  of  the  case  should  be 
made  by  the  Town  Com69  to  the  County  Comes  &  by  them  to 
the  State  Com66,  that  a  remedy  may  be  provided  if  possible,  — 
And  generally  that  the  Town  Com668  communicate  to  the 
County  Com66,  that  they  may  communicate  to  the  State  Com66 
all  such  facts  &  information  as  may  be  useful  to  the  federal 


cause  — " 


A  newspaper  squib,  from  which  the  following  extract  is 
made,  was  written  by  him  in  August,  1790,  in  answer  to 
complaints,  which  a  "Republican"  had  recently  published, 
of  the  new  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

"The  Constitution  must  be  radically  defective  —  I 
would  therefore  humbly  propose  the  following  further  amend 
ments  to  the  Constitution 

1  Clashing  interests  &  local  policy  or  prejudice  shall  no 
longer  exist  in  the  minds  of  M (embers)  of  C(ongress) 

2  To  prevent  a  mispence  of  time  in  unnecessary  debate  — 
two  thirds  of  each  House  shall  always  agree  in  every  Bill  or 
Resolve,  before  it  shall  be  proposed. 

3  To  convince  the  other  third  &  keep  up  the  perfect  free 
dom  of  Debate  5  speakers  on  each  side  shall  be  allowed  to 
debate  in  speaches  5  minutes  long  — 


294  Political  Activities 

4  When  a  Question  has  been  once  taken,  the  resolve  shall 
be  like  those  of  the  Medes  &  Persians  unalterable,  unamend- 
able,  because  that  would  occasion  a  misspende  of  precious 
time  — 

5  The  fees  of  all  officers,  Doorkeepers  not  excepted,  shall 
be  regulated  by  those  of  the  State  Gov1  of  Con1  - 

6  The  residence  of  Congress  .shall  not  be  in  an  Indian 
wigwam,  nor  in  the  Howling  Wilderness. 

7  The  petitions  of  Baron  Stuben2  &  Nat.  Twing  shall  be 
negatived  without  being  read  - 

These  amendments  I  think  will  comprehend  most  of  our 
sources  of  uneasiness  &  I  am  surprised  that  the  wise  f  ramers 
of  our  Conn  had  not  the  sagacity  to  insert  them/5 

The  selections  from  his  correspondence  to  be  found  in 
Chapter  XIV  show  that  he  was,  throughout  his  life,  in  par 
ticularly  close  political  association  with  two  of  his  brother 
lawyers  in  New  Haven,  Elizur  Goodrich  and  David  Daggett. 
The  three  men  were  of  about  the  same  age.  Each  was  sent 
by  Connecticut  to  represent  her  in  the  lower  House  of  Con 
gress,  and  one  was  a  member  of  both  Houses.  Each  had  a 
ready  pen,  but  Daggett  could  use  his  with  the  most  skill  and 
effect.  Each  lived  to  the  age  of  over  eighty.  Their  houses 
were  near  together  and  their  families  were  on  terms  of 
intimate  friendship. 

During  the  last  month  of  John  Adams'  administration,  the 
Collector  of  the  port  of  New  Haven  died,  and  Elizur  Good 
rich  was  appointed  his  successor.  The  nomination  was 
promptly  confirmed  and  Mr.  Goodrich  assumed  the  duties 
of  the  office  early  in  March.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  month 
he  was  removed  by  the  new  President  and  the  office  conferred 
on  Samuel  Bishop,  a  prominent  Democrat,  and  father  of  one 
still  more  prominent,  Abraham  Bishop  (Yale,  Class  of  1778). 

2  In  this  year  Congress  granted  to  Gen.  von  Steuben,  of  our  Revo 
lutionary  Army,  a  pension  of  $2,500  a  year. 


Political  Activities  295 

This  was  one  of  the  earliest,  if  not  the  earliest,  removal  of  a 
competent  Federal  official  for  political  reasons,  and  occa 
sioned  a  letter  of  remonstrance,  signed  by  Elias  Shipman  and 
other  merchants  in  the  collection  District  of  New  Haven, 
and  a  reply,  justifying  his  course,  from  President  Jefferson. 
Both  of  these  papers  are  well-penned  and  forcible  in  both 
statement  and  argument.  Mr.  Baldwin  drafted  the  remon 
strance  for  the  merchants.  In  Jefferson's  reply  occurs  the 
often  quoted  passage  as  to  his  being  compelled  to  make  some 
removals,  because  the  Federalists  had  had  a  monopoly  of 
office,  and  vacancies  "by  death  are  few;  by  resignation 
none,"  and  that  after  giving  something  like  a  just  propor 
tion  of  new  appointments  to  his  political  supporters,  he 
should  "return  with  joy  to  that  state  of  things,  when  the 
only  questions  concerning  a  candidate  shall  be;  Is  he  honest? 
Is  he  capable?  Is  he  faithful  to  the  Constitution?"3 

Tapping  Reeve  (Princeton,  Class  of  1763)  of  Litchfield, 
founder  of  the  "Litchfield  Law  School,"  was  a  Judge  of 
the  Superior  Court  from  1798  to  1815,  and  Chief  Judge  dur 
ing  his  last  year  of  office.  His  wife  was  a  sister  of  Aaron 
Burr. 

In  April,  1806,  he  was  indicted  in  the  Circuit  Court  for 
the  District  of  Connecticut,  under  the  Alien  and  Sedition 
Act,  on  the  charge  of  publishing  a  seditious  libel.  The 
prosecution  was  disapproved  by  President  Jefferson,  who 
regarded  this  Act  as  unconstitutional,  and  a  nolle  prosequi 
was  entered  in  1807. 

While  it  was  pending,  most  of  the  leaders  among  the 
Federalist  lawyers  and  a  few  among  the  Democratic  ones 
joined  in  sending  the  following  letter  to  Judge  Reeve.  This 
was  signed  by  over  forty  lawyers,  and  among  them  was 

3  Atwater,  History  of  the  City  of  New  Haven,  321 ;  Writings  of 
Thomas  Jefferson,  Library  Ed.,  X,  268. 


296  Political  A  ctivities 

Simeon  Baldwin.      It  is  one  of  his  last  acts  of  a  political 
character  before  going  on  the  bench. 

"Hartford,  May  23,  1806. 
Honorable  Tapping  Reeve 

Sir 

We  have  been  informed  that  dur 
ing  the  late  Session  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States 
at  New  Haven  you  were  designated  for  prosecution,  on 
account  of  a  publication  pretended  to  be  libellous.  What 
ever  may  have  been  the  cause  of  such  a  procedure,  our  con 
fidence  in  the  correctness  of  your  information  and  the  purity 
of  your  principles  will  not  permit  us  to  believe  you  deserving 
the  character  of  a  libeller.  We  do  not  attempt  to  express 
the  various  sentiments  excited  in  our  minds  by  this  accusa 
tion  against  Judge  Reeve.  But  we  request  you  freely  to 
command  our  professional  aid  if,  in  your  estimation,  any  of 
our  exertions  should  be  desirable  for  your  defence.  How 
ever  unnecessary  our  assistance  may  be  to  a  gentleman  versed 
in  the  science  of  jurisprudence  we  hope  this  voluntary  proffer 
of  our  services  will  be  accepted  as  a  testimonial  of  the  senti 
ments  of  respect  and  friendship  with  which  we  are,  Sir, 

Your  very  obedient  and  humble  servants.4 

Judge  Baldwin  came  now  for  nearly  twelve  years  to  hold 
a  position  which  withheld  him  from  engaging  in  political 
discussions.  After  May,  1818,  he  was  again  at  liberty  to 
express  his  views  on  public  questions  without  reserve,  and 
then  he  began  at  once  to  take  the  benefit  of  his  new  freedom. 

The  following  draft  of  a  letter  in  his  handwriting  has 
been  preserved  among  his  papers.  It  would  appear  from  its 
contents  to  have  been  written  shortly  before  the  Convention, 
which  framed  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  of  1818,  was 
assembled.  The  name  of  the  person  to  whom  it  was 
addressed  is  not  given,  and  it  may  have  been  written  for  use 
in  the  newspapers,  as  a  reply  to  a  supposititious  inquirer. 

4  Conn.  Herald  for  Nov.  i,  1806. 


P  o  litical  A  c  tivities  297 

"Sir 

I  confess  I  have  been  one  of  those  who  long  opposed  the 
mania  for  a  Constitution  for  Connecticut,  because  I  believed 
we  had  one.  -  I  was  opposed  to  forming  a  new  one  because 
I  did  not  believe  we  could  make  one,  more  favourable  to  the 
liberty  of  the  people  or  more  congenial  to  their  habbits  — 
because  this  had  grown  venerable  by  antiquity  had  carried 
in  safety  thro'  the  many  perils,  revolutions  &  political  tur 
moils  of  nearly  two  Centuries.  -  (We  have  grown  up  in 
the  enjoyment  of  it,  &  our  children  practically  know  it)  — 
the  bold  features  of  which  were  delineated  in  the  Conven 
tion  of  1639  -  -  &  which  received  its  finishing  touches  in 
1662.  Shall  we  now  reject  the  Govn  of  our  choice  &  say  we 
have  no  Constitution  because  we  once  enjoyed  it  by  royal 
favour ;  as  well  may  we  renounce  our  independence  for  that 
was  yielded  to  us  by  the  same  royal  sanction.  —  Still  if  it  is 
the  wish  of  my  fellow  citizens  to  divest  the  instrument  of 
its  royal  charter  robes  &  cloath  it  in  a  more  fashionable 
republican  dress  I  will  not  object  provided  the  garment  is 
made  to  fit  those  who  must  wear  it  — 

It  has  often  been  said  by  others  as  well  as  ourselves,  that 
no  portion  of  the  globe  exhibits  a  specimen  of  purer  Democ 
racy,  than  the  republic  of  Connecticut  &  I  much  doubt  whether 
any  form  of  Govfc  existing  has  so  long  &  so  well  protected  the 
rights  of  the  citizens  &  at  the  same  time  exhibitted  energy 
&  inspired  respect  —  This  I  agree  has  been  owing  in  some 
measure  to  the  steady  habits  of  the  people,  naturally  growing 
out  of  such  a  form  of  Gov1  to  which  they  &  their  fathers 
have  been  enured  during  a  period  beyond  their  memories  — 
This  has  hitherto  suited  the  people  well,  it  has  produced 
happy  results  in  the  protection  of  life,  liberty,  property  & 
all  that  is  dear  to  freemen  —  Why  then  hazzard  the  experi 
ment  of  a  change?  Our  Neighbours  were  under  the  neces 
sity  of  forming  Constitutions  after  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  because  they  had  no  form  of  Gov*  suited  to 
that  condition  -  -  would  any  of  their  constitutions  suit  the 
people  of  Connecticut  better  than  our  own?  -  have  they 
enjoyed  more  freedom  or  political  happiness  during  the  last 
40  years  than  we  have  ?  -  -  or  do  we  think  we  could  manage 


298  P  o  litical  A  c  timties 

their  Constitutions  better  than  they?  fellow  citizens  be  not 
deceived,  your  passions  have  been  enflamed  by  designing 
men  who  to  answer  sinister  purposes  would  persuade  you 
that  we  have  no  Constitution,  &  that  for  40  years  your  Govt 
has  been  an  usurpation,  that  your  Governor  &  your  Counsel 
whom  you  have  annually  chosen  &  your  representatives 
whom  you  have  semiannually  elected  have  exercised  the 
power  of  legislation  without  authority  -  -  &  that  the  Judte 
of  your  judicial  Tribunals  are  of  course  void  -  Sober 
reason  will  teach  you  it  is  not  so  -  It  has  already  quieted 
much  of  the  alarm  on  this  subject  —  yet  so  much  has  been 
said  and  done  that  it  seems  necessary  to  make  the  enquiry 
whether  alterations  cannot  be  advantageously  made.  I 
would  willingly  have  avoided  the  excitement  necessarily  inci 
dent  to  the  discussion  of  such  a  subject  -  because  I  know 
we  have  long  been  a  happy  people,  &  I  have  reason  to  fear 
that  a  change  in  our  Constitution  of  Gov*  would  not  make  us 
more  so  -  -  because  I  am  fully  convinced  we  cannot  be  united 
in  many  of  the  amendments  I  have  heard  proposed  - 

So  far  as  it  is  the  wish  of  any  portion  of  my  fellow  citizens 
to  divest  the  instrument  of  its  royal  robes  &  cloath  it  in  a  more 
fashionable  republican  dress,  I  will  not  object.  This  may  be 
done  without  essentially  "impairing  our  institutions  or 
abridging  the  rights  &  privileges  of  the  people"  -  but  more 
I  know  is  intended 

Your  Govr  is  now  a  constituant  part  of  the  Legislature: 
he  sits  &  votes  in  the  house  of  Assistants  -  -  Are  you  willing 
to  make  him  a  distinct  branch  and  give  him  a  complete  or 
even  a  qualified  Negative  ?  This  royal  prerogative  has  been 
engrafted  into  some  Constitutions  called  republican.  This 
principle  is  important  in  a  monarchial  Gov*  to  guard  the 
rights  of  the  crown  -  -  but  what  rights  or  prerogatives  has 
a  Govr  of  Con1  distinct  from  the  people,  I  have  no  fear  that 
this  will  succeed  -  But  if  you  separate  him  from  the  legis 
lature  you  must  give  him  some  power,  he  does  not  now  pos 
sess,  or  his  office  will  become  a  sinecure  &  sink  into 
insignificance  —  will  you  take  from  the  Gen  Assembly  the 
power  of  appointment  to  office,  a  power  they  have  always 
enjoyed,  &  seldom  abused,  &  vest  that  in  the  Governor  either 


Political  A ctivities  299 

wholly  or  partially  -  This  is  an  important  power  &  I  know 
has  its  advocates  -  You  ought  then  to  consider  the  sub 
ject  thoroughly,  before  you  are  suddenly  called  to  sanction 
such  a  measure.  - 

I  have  never  heard  complaints  of  essential  evils  resulting 
from  the  present  mode  of  appointing  to  office  - 

The  sheriffs  being  peculiarly  executive  officers  have  been 
immemorially  appointed  by  the  Govr  &  Council.  The  can 
didates  for  the  higher  offices  are  supposed  to  be  known  to 
the  representatives,  they  are  selected  from  the  State  at  large 
by  a  general  ballot  in  each  house  -  -  local  officers  both  civil 
&  military  are  selected  &  nominated  by  the  representatives 
from  the  District  within  which  they  are  to  act  &  are  then 
appointed  or  rejected  by  the  Gen1  Assembly  -  Will  a  well 
disposed  Governor  select  with  less  partiality  or  be  liable  to 
less  imposition?  I  am  persuaded  that  a  people  so  long 
accustomed  to  popular  appointments  to  office  will  not  readily 
yield  them  to  the  will  &  pleasure  of  the  best  man  among 
them,  A  power  so  peculiarly  democratic  &  so  flattering  to 
the  pride  of  freemen  I  think  they  will  retain.  - 

An  attempt  will  be  made  to  introduce  another  important 
principle.  I  mean  the  independence  of  your  Judiciary.  This 
undoubtedly  would  be  an  improvement  -  -  an  independent 
Judiciary  ought  to  be  the  pride  &  boast  of  every  free  people 

-  but  it  is  to  be  feared  we  are  not  yet  ripe  for  such  a  change 

-  Our  present  Constitution  admits  of  appointment  for  a 
longer   period   than   one   year  The    Legislature   once 
partially  adopted  the  principle  &  by  law  declared  that  their 
Judges  should  hold  their  offices  during  the  pleasure  of  the 
Assembly;   this  law  soon  became  unpopular:    their  pleasure 
was  annually  manifested  by  reappointments,  the  law  became 
obsolete  &  was  eventually  repealed  -  -  Upon  the  recommenda 
tion  of  the  Govr  it  became  the  subject  of  legislative  delibera 
tion  during  the  last  year,  &  was,  rejected,    can  we  reasonably 
hope  for  better  success  in  the  Convention  - 

This  is  plausible  &  specious  merely  -  The  State  of  Con 
necticut  is  so  limited  in  extent  that  we  have  never  expe 
rienced  difficulty  from  not  knowing  the  Characters  of  the 
Candidates  for  the  office  of  Assistants  or  Rep*  in  Congress, 


300  Political  A  ctivities 

nor  can  we  ever  experience  it  provided  we  can  restore  to  its 
antient  purity  our  peculiar  system  of  nomination  -  It  may 
be  called  peculiar  to  Connecticut  because  it  does  not  probably 
exist  any  where  else  —  It  originated  in  the  Convention  of 
1639 :  the  System  has  been  adhered  to  ever  since  &  by  various 
emendations  has  been  improved  -  To  this  more  than  any 
other  single  cause  is  to  be  attributed  the  stability  of  our  Gov1 
and  the  succession  of  dignified  Characters  who  have  gen 
erally  adorned  her  Councils  -  In  former  times  men  grad 
ually  rose  into  nomination,  as  their  increasing  votes  from 
year  to  year  led  to  inquiries  &  opened  to  view  their  qualifica 
tions  for  office  —  This  beautiful  feature  of  our  Constitu 
tion  has  indeed  been  impaired  by  party  zeal  in  moddern  times 
—  Organized  Caucuses,  those  fatal  enemies,  of  all  govern 
ment,  good  order  &  freedom  of  election  —  have  imposed  upon 
the  freemen,  candidates  for  nomination,  not  designated  by 
antecedent  Votes  of  the  freemen  If  they  were  the  best  of 
the  parties  who  selected  them,  they  were  not  always  the  best 
in  the  State,  If  the  Convention  can  in  their  wisdom  restore 
&  perpetuate  this  antient  mode  of  election,  in  its  purity,  there 
will  be  no  occasion  for  Districts  in  this  little  republic,  to 
secure  the  talents  of  the  best  &  ablest  men  in  the  State  for 
those  important  offices.  -  Local  interests,  being  represented 
in  the  lower  house,  ought  not  to  influence  the  choice  of 
Assistants.  - 

!  Another  important  subject  of  amendment,  &  intimately 
connected  with  the  last  is  the  elective  Franchise  -  The  qual 
ification  on  which  freemen  were  at  first  admitted  does  not 
appear  -  -  but  it  does  appear  that  for  50  years  after  the 
establishment  of  our  Gov*  it  was  considered  a  subject  of  so 
much  consequence  that  none  were  admitted  free  but  at  a  gen 
eral  Assembly  &  upon  a  previous  nomination  &  they  very 
soon  required  proof  of  the  possession  of  property  as  well  as 
of  orderly  behavior  -  For  more  than  a  century  past  the 
pecuniary  qualifications  have  been  the  possession  of  Free 
hold  estate  at  least  of  4O/  annual  value  or  £40  of  personal, 
computed  by  the  list  —  The  depreciation  of  money  had 
reduced  these  qualifications  more  than  one  half  —  ingenious 
devices  still  more,  &  the  last  Act  of  Assembly  has  done  them 


Political  A ctivities  3° r 

away  —  This  ought  to  be  a  subject  for  the  serious  delibera 
tion  of  the  Convention.  —  Our  present  system  approaches 
so  near  to  universal  suffrage  —  that  many  suppose  it  would 
be  better  to  make  it  clearly  so  —  Our  present  system  in  the 
opinion  of  most  politicians  has  been  thought  too  dangerous 
for  experiment  - 

Perhaps  the  Convention  can  retrace  this  hazardous  step 
of  the  Legislature  -  -  or  at  least  interpose  an  Antidote,  by 
requiring  suitable  pecuniary  qualifications  in  electors  of  the 
Governor  &  Council  —  Such  a  provision  is  common  in  other 
States  &  might  still  give  energy  &  stability  to  our  Govern 
ment  - 

What  think  you  of  lessening  the  popular  branch  of  your  3) 
legislature  &  enlarging  the  other?  this  may  be  a  subject 
for  your  deliberation.  —  There  is  doubtless  a  convenience 
in  having  one  rep.  from  each  town  to  represent  their  local 
interests  -  -  perhaps  the  evil  complained  of  may  be  lessened 
by  giving  one  to  each  town  &  an  increase  for  population  in 
such  ratio  as  to  reduce  the  number  of  the  whole  -  This 
would  lessen  expence,  increase  responsibility,  &  tend  to  the 
dispatch  of  business  -  On  the  other  hand  an  increase  of 
the  other  house  would  add  to  the  expence,  lessen  the  dignity 
&  responsibility  of  the  members  &  delay  business  -  -  but  it 
would  open  a  more  extensive  field  to  gratify  ambition,  or  to 
reward  merit.  - 

Connected  with  this  is  the  enquiry  whether  the  Legislature  4 
shall  have  two  Sessions  annually  or  only  one  &  if  one  whether 
this  shall  be  alternate  at  Hartford  &  New  Haven  or  confined 
to  one  place  as  the  Judgment  Seat  of  Gov1.  -  This  is  a 
subject  of  much  delicacy  &  some  interest.  -  It  is  always 
unpleasant  &  generally  impolitic  to  break  in  upon  ancient 
habits  if  innocent  &  unproductive  of  evil  -  From  the  com 
mencement  of  our  Gov*  the  people  have  been  accustomed  to 
two  Sessions  which  by  ancient  compact  have  been  held 
alternately  at  Hartford  &  New  Haven  -  This  has  been 
found  conducive  to  the  dispatch  of  business  &  very  con 
venient  for  the  Inhabitants  of  the  different  portions  of  the 
State.  It  has  gratified  the  people  with  frequent  elections  — 
&  semiannually  brought  in  review  before  the  electors  the 


302  Political  A ctivities 

conduct  of  their  representatives  -  Short  sessions  are  not 
indeed  so  convenient  for  the  slow  &  careful  deliberation 
which  ought  to  characterize  the  enactment  of  Laws  -  -  but  in 
a  State  like  this,  few  new  laws  of  importance  are  necessary, 
&  when  they  are,  they  can  be  &  usually  are  postponed  for 
deliberation  to  the  next  session  -  The  principal  object  of 
the  Legislature  being  the  watchful  Guardianship  of  the 
interests  of  the  State,  the  dispatch  of  business  of  a  local  or 
individual  concern  can  be  better  accomplished  by  two  than 
by  a  single  session  &  it  is  believed  the  expence  will  not  be 
greater  because  a  single  session  in  the  winter,  when  the  days 
are  short  will  consume  more  time  &  be  attended  with  addi 
tional  expence.  -  But  if  it  should  be  deemed  advisable  so 
far  to  break  in  upon  our  ancient  practice  as  to  have  but  one 
session  &  of  course  choose  our  representatives  for  the  year 

-  where  shall  that  session  be  held?     H  &  N  H.  are  well 
situated  for  alternate  sessions,  but  neither  of  them  is  central 

-  Shall  we  abandon  the  accommodations  of  both  &  seek  one 
more  central  ? 

In  1817,  when  the  "Toleration  party"  carried  in  their 
nominee  for  Governor,  Oliver  Wolcott,  he  advised,  in  his 
inaugural  message,  some  radical  changes  in  the  existing 
system  of  taxation. 

Judge  Baldwin  held  opposite  views,  and  among  his  papers 
is  a  rough  draft  of  an  argument  against  the  Governor's  pro 
posals,  from  which  extracts  are  given  below.  It  was  probably 
written  for  publication  early  in  1819. 

"The  Crisis 
To  the  people  of  Connecticut 

The  affairs  of  no  country  ever  progressed  with  such 
rapidity  as  yours  to  an  alarming  crisis  -  Within  the  short 
period  of  the  last  year,  your  system  of  Gov1,  the  glory  of 
your  ancestors  &  the  pride  &  bost  of  their  posterity  has  been 
overthrown  —  These  venerable  institutions  of  our  fathers 
have  been  undermined  &  the  steady  habbits  of  Connecticut, 


Political  Activities  303 

exchanged  for  the  turbulent  spirit  of  reform  —  In  the  short 
period  of  Days  a  Convention  was  chosen  -  -  a  new  con 
stitution  of  Gov*  framed,  &  adopted  by  the  people  in  a  mode 
&  by  measures  unprecedented  in  the  annals  of  deliberate 
assemblies  -  These  changes  have  been  effected,  by  impair 
ing  the  ancient  guards  to  the  elective  franchise  &  extending 
the  right  almost  to  universal  suffrage.  Pecuniary  qualifica 
tions  are  no  longer  necessary  for  the  privileges  of  freemen  of 
the  State  —  And  property  is  controuled  by  pennyless  voters. 
All  this  was  done  during  the  fatal  period  of  the  slumbering 
apathy  of  the  friends  of  the  State  Wearied  with  the  toil 
of  constantly  guarding  their  political  rights,  it  is  known  that 
many  real  friends  to  the  ancient  Gov1  &  institutions  of  the 
State  have  retired  from  the  polls,  either  in  disgust,  or  with 
out  anticipation  of  the  extent  of  evils  to  which  they  exposed 
themselves  &  the  State.  -  Their  opponents  elated  with  suc 
cess  have  hurried  on  the  delusive  work  of  tolleration  & 
reform,  grasping  for  themselves  the  offices  &  emoluments  of 
those  whom  they  have  displaced  without  cause  or  imputation 
-  Alas  "Our  Councillors  are  not  as  at  the  beginning"  — 
But  the  work  of  reform  is  not  yet  ended  -  -  a  bold  attempt 
has  been  made  &  is  still  in  operation  to  change  your  whole 
system  of  revenue,  a  system  matured  &  improved  by  the 
experience  of  more  than  a  century.  This  subjects  demands 
your  most  serious  attention  —  Property  will  always  shape 
itself  to  any  tollerable,  permanent  system  of  taxation ;  -  -  if 
our  present  system  is  capable  of  improvement  let  us  amend 
it,  but  remember  that  a  radical  change  is  always  attended 
with  evils  many  of  which  will  be  unforseen  &  incalculable. 
This  scheme  is  peculiarly  alarming  to  the  farmer,  &  not  unin 
teresting  to  the  subjects  of  assessment.  -  The  project  was 
first  proposed  to  the  Legislature  in  May  1817  the  plan  then 
seemed  to  be  to  obtain  a  valuation  of  lands  and  buildings  & 
raise  our  taxes  on  real  estate  exclusively.  The  subject  was 
referred  to  their  financial  Com66  Messra  Stevens,  Russ  & 
House  who  after  much  time  spent  upon  the  subject  reported 
in  May  last  a  Bill  providing  for  the  appointment  of  Assessors 
who  are  to  make  an  Assessment  list  of  each  mans  Lands  & 
buildings  &  personal  property  at  their  just  value  —  the  num- 


304  Political  A ctivities 

ber  of  taxable  polls  -  -  &  to  assess  mechanics,  merchants  & 
others  at  their  discretion  —  that  i/io  of  all  taxes  be  laid 
on  Polls  &  the  remainder  apportioned  on  the  real  &  personal 
estate  thus  valued  &  assessments  then  made  —  This  bill  was 
continued  to  the  last  Octr  session,  &  was  then  fully  discussed 
in  the  house  of  Representatives  &  after  being  amended  by 
inserting  a  clause  exempting  Household  furniture  Libraries 
&c  passed  the  house  of  representatives  near  the  close  of  the 
session  &  was  continued  by  the  Council  for  want  of  time  to 
discuss  it.  — 

This  Bill  has  been  published  in  several  Newspapers  &  is 
now  before  the  public.  It  demands  the  serious  &  deliberate 
consideration  of  all  classes  of  Citizens  -  It  is  not  to  be 
ragarded  as  the  wild  theory  of  an  individual  -  -  but  as  the 
result  of  the  profound  deliberations  of  a  joint  Com66  of  both 
houses  of  our  Legislature  —  already  sanctioned  by  the  appro 
bation  of  one  &  continued  for  the  consideration  of  the  other. 
Unless  prevented  by  your  exertions  this  plan  will  in  all 
probability  become  the  law  of  the  land  You  alone  possess 
the  constitutional  power  to  prevent  it  — 

Let  us  then  compare  the  principle  of  the  old  with  that  of 
the  new  system  &  examine 

The  provisions  of  the  Bill,  to  carry  the  new  plan  into 
execution  —  &  the  effect  of  the  new  plan  on  the  different 
classes  of  People  —  The  principle  of  our  present  scheme  of 
revenue  is  a  tax  apportioned  on  income  or  the  profits  of 
Labour  &  property  -  Asste  for  the  profits  of  certain  occu 
pations  &  on  Luxuries  —  all  set  in  the  list  at  a  legal  valuation 
except  assts  &  now  with  respect  to  them  the  discretion  of  the 
Listers  is  limitted  by  legal  restrictions  —  to  comparative 
profits  - 

The  principle  of  the  new  scheme  is  a  tax  i/io  part  on  Polls 
&  the  remainder  apportioned  on  the  apprized  value  of  all 
Lands  &  buildings  &  personal  property  belonging  to  indi 
viduals  -  except  furniture  neat  cattle  &c.  -  -  &  an  Assess* 
on  all  who  are  now  subject  to  it  at  the  discretion  of  the 
Assessors  without  limitation  or  guide  or  even  regard  to 
profits  - 

Polls  at  the  rate  of  about  one  half  the  income  of  labourers 


Political  A ctivities  305 

by  the  year  abating  one  in  10  for  infirmity  &  excluding  mili 
tary  exempts  -  Bank  stock  is  also  rated  at  half  its  annual 
produce  or  3  pr  C  on  the  amount  —  real  estate  is  rated 
probably  at  about  2  pr  O  on  its  average  value  difference  in 
quality  being  equallized  by  the  tax  on  cattle  &  Horses  which 
are  rated  at  %  of  their  average  value  thereby  increasing  the 
tax  on  an  owner  of  productive  lands  capable  of  supporting 
more  than  their  average  of  stock  -  -  to  3  or  4  pr  Cent ;  plate 
is  rated  at  6  pr  C*  articles  of  luxury  or  such  as  are  used 
only  by  the  wealthier  part  of  Comy  are  rated  much  higher, 
viz  Carriages  for  pleasure,  watches,  Clocks,  &c  are  now  rated 
at  nearly  their  average  value  —  and  all  assessments  are  con 
fined  to  profits  &  in  a  limitted  ratio  .... 

By  the  old  system  By  the  new  system 

Polls  pay  about  3  tenth  i  tenth 

Lands  a  little  over  3  nearly  8 

Other  property  & 

Asste  nearly        4  a  little  over  I 

These  statements  exhibit  the  subject  in  an  alarming  view 
to  every  considerate  farmer.  The  burthen  on  Lands  is 
increased  nearly  in  proportion  as  3  to  8  while  polls  are 
diminished  as  from  3  to  I  —  &  the  aid  which  the  farmer  here 
tofore  received  from  the  heavy  tax  on  articles  of  luxury  or 
pleasure  used  only  by  the  wealthy  is  wholly  lost  in  the  change. 
Silver  plate  Gold  watches  &  pleasure  carriages  are  to  pay  no 
more  than  the  same  amount  in  value  of  Team  horses  —  This 
cannot  be  right  —  will  you  be  quieted  by  the  flimsy  pretence 
that  you  are  relieved  by  the  exemption  of  your  neat  cattle  — 
This  was  indeed  an  important  item  under  the  old  system. 
It  served  to  equallize  the  value  of  farms  rated  alike  by  increas 
ing  the  tax  on  farmers  whose  lands  were  more  productive 
than  their  neighbours  but  when  rated  at  their  real  value  their 
relative  importance  will  be  lost  as  will  be  seen  by  the  table 
The  original  plan  is  said  to  have  been  a  system  of  taxation 
confined  exclusively  to  real  estate,  this  being  the  pole  star 

—  you  see  how  near  they  have  approached  in  the  first  essay 

—  Notwithstanding  the  plausible  pretext  of  embracing  all 


306  Political  Activities 

personal  property  &  fettering  the  bill  with  numerous  pro 
visions  expensive  &  oppresive  which  will  be  hereafter  con 
sidered  -  -  the  exemptions  still  leave  about  8  tenths  on  real 
estate  &  little  more  than  one  on  personal  and  assts  Such 
being-  the  first  stride,  how  long  will  it  be  before  the  system 
will  be  perfected,  the  embarrassing  provisions  respecting  per 
sonal  estate  be  done  away  &  the  whole  placed  on  the  more 
sure  &  simple  basis  of  real  estate?  - 

I  am  aware  you  will  be  told,  &  that  attempts  will  be  made 
to  quiet  you,  on  the  ground,  that  property  will  shape  itself 
to  any  system  of  taxation  &  will  eventually  equallize  itself  - 
I  admit  the  Theory  in  its  fullest  extent  —  &  on  that  I  ground 
my  objection  to  this  besom  of  reform  -  Our  old  system  has 
been  in  operation  more  than  a  century  —  it  has  become  famil 
iar  to  us  -  -  it  is  simple  &  easily  understood  being  guided  by 
legal  certainty  -  -  so  that  every  man  may  make  up  his  list  & 
compute  his  tax  —  &  every  species  of  property  &  labour  have 
long  since  insensibly  shaped  themselves  to  it.  -  Shall  we 
then  suffer  the  mania  of  reform  rashly  to  demolish  a  system 
matured  by  the  wisdom  &  experience  of  ages  &  hastily  build 
up  a  new  one  whose  basis  is  theory  unaided  by  experience, 
abandoning  the  scheme  of  legal  valuation  &  limited  discre 
tion,  shall  we  leave  all  to  the  arbitrary  apprizal  of  men  with 
out  rule  to  guide  their  discretion,  or  law  to  restrain  their 
will?  -  The  operation  of  any  system  is  slow  in  producing 
the  effect  of  equallization  -  the  change  proposed  is  radical 
&  almost  universal  -  can  any  man  now  living  expect  to  see 
a  tax  on  real  estate  only  equallize  itself  in  Connecticut  on 
every  other  species  of  property.  In  the  course  of  another 
century  it  probably  may,  but  the  present  generation  of  Land 
holders  must  &  will  bear  the  additional  burtherns  alone  - 
Can  you  at  once  raise  the  price  of  your  beef,  your  pork,  or 
your  grain,  in  proportion  to  the  increase  of  your  tax,  or  will 
the  consumer  who  pays  no  tax,  on  that  account  pay  you  more  ? 
-  this  equallization  must  be  the  work  of  time,  &  hence  the 
folly  of  unnecessary  changes. 

The  reduction  of  the  poll  tax  I  am  aware  has  been  the 
popular  theme  of  the  Demagogues  of  the  Day.  It  is  the 
reward  of  that  new  class  of  voters  by  whose  aid  all  our 


P  o  litical  A  c  tivities  307 

changes  have  been  effected  &  well  may  they  claim  it.  — 
Imaginary  pretences  of  financial  indigence  &  distress  in  its 
objects  have  been  painted  in  glowing  colours  to  excite  even 
the  sympathy  of  your  Legislature  -  -  but  did  such  men  ever 
pay  a  poll  tax  -  The  provision  of  Law  for  the  relief  of 
those  whom  that  tax  might  otherwise  oppress  is  abundant, 
&  leaves  no  reasonable  cause  of  complaint  -  the  militia 
who  equip  &  serve  are  all  exempt  from  it  -  -  &  one  tenth  of 
all  the  polls  included  are  to  be  abated  on  account  of  sickness 
or  infirmity  before  the  list  is  returned  --  &  on  all  State  taxes 
an  allowance  is  made  by  law  for  the  abatement  of  an  8th  of 
the  amount  of  the  tax :  this  if  required  may  be  wholly  applied 
to  the  relief  of  the  Polls.  The  fact  is,  the  mere  poll  tax  has 
never  been  the  most  burthensome  part  of  our  system  of  taxa 
tion,  it  falls  heaviest  on  the  man  that  is  poor  &  yet  possesses 
taxable  estate.  - 

This  is  a  general  tax  on  all  who  are  able  to  pay  it,  for  that 
protection  which  Society  gives  to  personal  rights.  A  large 
portion  is  paid  by  owners  of  real  estate,  but  a  large  portion 
is  also  paid  by  those  who  are  abundantly  able  &  yet  possess 
little  or  no  taxable  property  -  The  reduction  of  this  tax1 
&  adding  it  to  real  estate  obliges  the  Land  owner  to  pay  not 
only  his  own  proportion,  but  all  that  is  taken  from  the  polls 
of  others.  - 

The  reduction  of  the  poll  tax  will  be  attended  with  another 
difficulty  not  probably  foreseen.  The  militia  by  their  exemp 
tion  virtually  have,  on  the  average  of  all  taxes  a  bounty  of 
8  DoP  pr  an  — ;  on  the  new  system  this  will  be  reduced  to  two 

-  If  this  was  a  reasonable  compensation  only  —  the  conse 
quence  will  be  -  -  either  the  service  will  suffer  &  the  militia 
run  down,  or  the  difference  must  be  made  up  to  them.  & 
charged  over  again  at  least  1/8  of  it  upon  real  estate  which 
has  once  already  been  charged  with  the  reduction.  .  . 

Under  the  new  system  no  limits  are  fixed,  no  bounds  to 
guide  the  understanding,  to  bridle  the  passions,  or  restrain 
the  prejudices  of  the  assessors  with  respect  to  the  value  of 
property  -  -  and  the  whole  subject  of  Assess13  of  mechanics, 
traders  &  others  is  left  without  any  rule  to  their  arbitrary 
discretion.  — 


308  Political  A  ctivities 

It  will  be  readily  perceived  that  if  the  same  articles  com 
pose  the  List  under  each  system  &  they  should  be  set  in  the 
Ass1  list  at  a  given  ratio  of  increase  whether  10  or  20  times 
higher  —  a  given  sum  raised  on  either  list  would  produce 
the  same  tax  on  the  list  of  any  individual  -  -  &  if  this  were 
the  only  difference  in  the  change  I  should  have  no  alarm  — 
but  this  is  not  the  only  difference  —  by  the  present  system 
all  real  estate  &  almost  every  species  of  taxable  personal 
property  has  its  rateable  value  ascertained  by  law,  &  the 
discretion  of  the  Listers  with  respect  to  that  which  is  not, 
&  with  respect  to  all  Assessments  is  bounded  by  safe  & 
reasonable  limits  -  but  under  the  new  system  no  limits 
are  fixed  no  bounds  are  given  to  guide  the  understanding, 
to  bridle  the  passions  or  restrain  the  prejudices  of  the  Asses 
sors  with  respect  to  the  value  of  property  -  -  &  the  whole 
subject  of  Ass1  of  mechanics,  traders  &c  -  -  is  left  without 
any  rule  to  their  arbitrary  discretion.  —  Thus  to  have  asses 
sors  without  guide  or  restraint  is  unreasonable,  unnecessary 
&  unsafe  -  This  plan  has  heretofore  more  than  once,  been 
tried  &  on  trial  has  been  found  defective,  &  unsafe,  &  has 
given  way  to  a  system  of  legal  valuation  or  limited  discre 
tion  -  The  law  is  no  respecter  of  persons,  when  that  fixes 
the  value  we  feel  safe  -  The  old  system  is  attended  with 
little  trouble  or  expence  -  The  proposed  system  must  neces 
sarily  be  attended  with  great  expence  both  to  the  Towns  & 
to  Individuals.  If  the  apprizal  is  made  under  oath  as  the 
law  contemplates  &  not  by  guess,  the  premises  must  be  viewed 
&  an  inventory  taken  with  as  much  care  as  if  the  owner  were 
deceased,  nay  with  more  for  if  the  Exr  omits  he  may  after 
wards  add  —  if  the  owner  omits  the  Assr  will  add  forefold  - 
This  apprizal  is  at  the  expence  of  the  town  -  -  so  far  as 
respects  the  Assessors  -  -  but  in  every  instance  they  must  be 
attended  with  the  owner  or  at  his  own  expence  &  loss  of 
time.  — 

Can  any  man  in  his  sober  senses  believe,  that  a  system  of 
equallizing  a  tax  upon  the  value  of  property  instead  of  the 
income  or  product  of  that  property,  will  benefit  the  towns  or 
individuals,  even  if  most  fairly  done  in  any  measure  pro 
portioned  to  the  expence  of  effecting  it?  —  The  time  & 


Political  Activities  309 

manner  of  the  valuation  is  also  peculiarly  exceptionable.  By 
a  section  of  the  Bill  as  it  was  reported  &  as  it  finally  passed 
the  House,  the  Assessors  shall  in  the  month  of  Jany  make  a 
list  of  all  taxable  persons  &  affix  to  the  name  of  each  person 
on  sd  list  the  quantity  &  just  value  of  all  lands  &  buildings 
or  personal  property  to  such  person  belonging  on  the  first 
day  of  Novr  preceeding  —  by  the  8"  section  the  Assesr  must 
enquire  at  the  residence  of  the  owner  for  the  quantity  & 
value  of  such  estate  &  may  fourf ould  him  if  correct  informa 
tion  is  withheld  —  This  valuation  must  be  made  in  the  month 
of  Jany  when  the  ground  is  usually  covered  with  snow  & 
farms  are  placed  in  the  worst  possible  state  for  a  fair 
apprizal:  a  worse  period  could  not  have  been  fixed  -  the 
List  must  be  submitted  to  the  civil  authority  &  selectmen 
for  abat*  of  polls  on  the  2d  Monday  of  Feby  —  &  after  being 
in  the  hands  of  the  Town  Clerk  a  reasonable  time  for  general 
inspection  it  must  be  handed  over  to  the  board  of  relief  on 
the  3'  Monday  of  March  -  -  so  that  the  whole  valuation 
must  be  made  &  completed  in  the  dead  of  Winter  -  Farm 
ers,  are  you  willing  to  have  your  Lands  thus  apprized?  — 
To  the  owners  of  buildings  &  personal  property  I  agree  the 
time  is  less  important  -  our  houses,  barns  &  stables  —  our 
parlours  bed  rooms  &  kitchens  may  indeed  be  viewed  in 
winter  our  trunks  &  closets  &  the  wardrobes  of  our  family, 
may  as  well  be  ransacked  at  one  time  as  another  &  it  is 
equally  unimportant  at  what  time  we  pass  the  ordeal  of 
examination  -  The  principle  of  the  system  is  the  subject 
of  alarm,  The  details  of  the  bill  are  only  the  necessary  means 
to  carry  it  into  effect  —  The  principle  avowed  in  the  2  & 
IIth  sections  is  that  the  value  of  all  real  &  personal  property 
shall  form  the  basis  of  taxation  —  the  12th  section  forms  the 
only  exception  -  the  expressions  are  the  most  general, 
including  all  property  —  every  thing  then  which  is  property 
&  not  exempted  must  be  valued  &  included  —  If  the  f  ramers 
of  the  Bill  meant  to  embrace  only  such  articles  as  are 
expressly  directed  to  be  included  in  the  Second  Section,  Bank 
Stock  &c.  they  could  easily  have  said  so  &  made  their  bill 
explicit  without  exceptions  —  but  this  was  not  the  intention 
—  Horses  Mules  &  a  variety  of  other  articles  are  undoubtedly 


3 1  o  Political  A ctivities 

meant  to  be  most  subject  to  taxation  -  there  is  then  no  safe 
limit  to  the  subject  of  taxation  at  the  ordeal  of  his  exami 
nation.  He  must  expose  every  thing  which  can  be  called 
"property"  or  "estate"  both  real  and  personal  -  Bank 
Insurance  &  U  S.  stock  are  expressly  by  name  included  - 
Turnpike  stock  is  also  property  &  must  be  valued  -  -  money 
on  In*  is  named  as  included  -  -  money  on  hand  &  Debts  not 
on  intr  are  equally  property  &  must  also  be  included  -  I 
could  swell  the  list  but  it  would  be  as  impossible  to  embrace 
the  whole  as  it  will  be  for  the  honest  subject  of  taxation  to 
escape  the  liability  of  being  four  foulded  .  .  . 

During  the  year  before  he  went  on  the  bench  he  served  as 
one  of  the  four  aldermen  of  the  city.  In  1825  he  held  the 
same  position,  and  in  1826  became  the  mayor. 

This  office  had,  until  that  year,  been  held  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  General  Assembly.  The  charter  was  then 
amended  so  as  to  elect  one  annually,  at  the  annual  freemen's 
meeting  in  June.  George  Hoadly,  the  President  of  the  Eagle 
Bank,  who  had  been  Mayor  since  1822,  resigned  the  latter 
office  May  u,  1826.  The  annual  meeting  for  that  year  was 
held  on  June  6  and  Judge  Baldwin  was  elected  his  successor. 

The  meeting  was  thinly  attended,  and  the  majority  of  those 
present  when  it  was  opened  were  Federalists.  They  pro 
ceeded  to  elect  Judge  Baldwin  Mayor,  and  had  also  elected 
two  of  the  four  aldermen,  when  a  number  of  Democrats 
who  had  been  hastily  notified  of  what  was  going  on  appeared 
and  carried  the  election  of  the  other  members  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Council.  The  next  year  a  Democratic  Mayor 
was  elected.  In  1829  Judge  Baldwin  served  again  as  an 
alderman ;  this  time  as  a  colleague  of  his  own  son,  Roger  S. 
Baldwin. 


CHAPTER  IX 
PUBLIC  ACTIVITIES,  NOT  POLITICAL 

There  is  a  time  in  the  life  of  most  persons  of  good  abilities 
who  are  interested  in  civic  affairs  and  social  movements, 
when  they  are  made  secretaries  or  treasurers  of  organiza 
tions  having  to  do  with  attempts  to  better  the  course  of  things 
of  public  interest;  and  there  is  a  time,  later,  when  they  are 
promoted  to  be  chairmen  and  presidents. 

Judge  Baldwin  was  faithful  in  all  such  offices,  as  he  was 
successively  chosen  to  them.  If  any  public  meeting  for  a 
philanthropic  purpose  was  called,  he  was  apt  to  be  present 
and  to  be  made  the  chairman.  His  nature  fitted  him  to  be 
a  good  presiding  officer,  and  no  less  to  be  a  good  recording 
one. 

He  was  of  a  philanthropic  temperament.  Throughout 
his  life  he  was  warmly  interested  in  a  long  succession  of  good 
causes,  looking  to  the  betterment  of  the  community.  He 
never  had  much  money  which,  in  justice  to  his  family,  he 
could  give  away.  Apart  from  his  contributions  to  aid  in  the 
maintenance  of  public  worship,  the  largest  sum  he  ever  gave 
at  one  time  to  a  public  object  was  $50  to  Yale  College,  in 
1826,  to  apply  towards  the  purchase  of  the  Gibbs  cabinet  of 
minerals,  for  which  a  subscription  paper  was  circulated  and 
$20,000  raised.  But  of  his  time  and  strength  and  personal 
activity  he  gave  cheerfully  and  largely. 

One  of  the  first  causes  which  he  publicly  advocated  was 
that  of  the  fair  treatment  of  the  slave,  and  the  prevention  of 
the  spread  of  the  slave  system. 

The  census  of  1790  showed  that  Connecticut  still  had  a 
slave  population  of  over  2,000.  A  paper  was  preserved  in 


312 


Public  Activities]  not  Political 


Mr.  Baldwin's  files,  and  probably  copied  from  the  census 
returns,  which  shows  that  there  were  over  thirty  in  his  own 
town. 


f A  List  of  Slaves  in  New  Haven 


Masters 

Mr  McCracken 

Thad8  Beecher 
Mr  Chauncy 

P.  Edwards  Esqr 

I  Jones 

Mr  Leavenworth 
Jn°  Smith 
Levi  Hubbard 

Col  Hubbard 
Da  Howel 
Jo.  Howel 
Jonn  Fitch 
Sturges  Burr 
Amos  Hotchkiss 
Sam1  Thatcher 

Mr  Grenough 

Hugh  Hotchkiss 
Mr  Hillhouse 

E.  Goodrich 
Docr  Wales 
Widow  Hillhouse 


Serv*  Name 

Age 

Peg 

30 

her  child 

vJ 

12 

Frank 

6 

Peg 

4 

Lem 

26 

Violet 

30 

a  girl  slave  for  years 
Casar 

*_/ 

14 

Tom 

14 

Pink 

IT 

20 

Marg 

girl 

IO 

Aaron 

Caesar 

8 

Jube 

26 

woman 

22 

Do 

24 

Do 

T^ 

4  5 

Sylvia 

18 

girl 

5  or  6 

Caesar 

^ 

woman 

Boy 

Man 

Woman 

boy 

14 

Woman 

T" 

b.  since  1784 

Betty 
Flora 

30 

Man 

Woman 

Public  Activities }  not  Political  3 1 3 

34.  of  which  Mr  Beechers  two  Frank  &  Peg  were  born 
since  March  1784  &  not  recorded." 

Occasionally  at  this  period  the  advertisement  of  a  fugitive 
slave,  or  a  slave  for  sale,  would  appear  in  the  newspapers. 
The  New  Haven  Gazette  of  Nov.  9,  1786,  contains  one  read 
ing  thus : 

fCTo  be  sold  at  public  V endue  on  Tuesday  the  2Qth  of 
November  instant,  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Capt.  Enos 
Atwater  of  Cheshire,  deceased,  a  good  Negro  Wench,  about 
twenty  years  old.  Also  a  brass  wheel'd  Clock,  a  weaver's 
Loom,  with  tackling,  sundry  feather  beds,  and  furniture  and 
a  variety  of  articles  of  Household  Furniture  too  numerous  to 
mention."  .... 

In  the  same  newspaper,  for  April  19,  1787,  we  find  this: 

"To  be  sold,  a  healthy,  strong  and  active  Negro  Boy,  about 
T  i  years  of  age.  Enquire  of  the  printers." 

Mr.  Baldwin's  father,  as  is  stated  in  Chapter  I,  was  a  slave 
holder,  owning  a  negro  lad  named  "Bristo,"  who  was  born 
in  1771.  In  1792,  in  the  distribution  of  the  estate  under  the 
will,  Bristo  became  part  of  Simeon's  share,  and  was  sent  to 
New  Haven  in  the  fall  of  1792.  This  arrangement  was  made 
on  the  basis  of  a  valuation  of  his  services  till  he  should  become 
twenty-five,  namely  for  four  years  and  two  months,  at  £16. 

But  while  to  this  limited  extent  he  was  a  slaveholder,  Mr. 
Baldwin  was  among  those  most  active  in  pressing  forward 
the  movement  for  the  amelioration  and  ultimate  abolition  of 
slavery. 

In  August,  1790,  a  society  had  been  formed  by  voluntary 
association,  bearing  the  sesquipedalian  name  of  the  "Con 
necticut  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Freedom  and  for  the 
Relief  of  Persons  unlawfully  holden  in  Bondage."  Simeon 


3 T  4  Public  A ctivities,  not  Political 

Baldwin  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  agreement  of  associa 
tion,  and  was  its  first  secretary.  In  this  agreement,  the  sub 
scribers,  not  denying  that  men  might  be  lawfully  holden  in 
bondage,  and  careful  not  to  class  themselves  with  those  who 
would  have  had  the  United  States  make  all  the  States  free, 
and  later  came  to  be  known  as  "Abolitionists,"  thus  expressed 
their  purposes : 

"Impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  inestimable  worth  &  value 
of  the  excellent  constitution,  laws,  &  government  of  this 
State,  &  the  united  States  of  America,  and  anxiously  desirous 
that  every  description  of  men  who  have  obtained  a  residence 
among  us,  of  whatever  clime  or  colour,  should  quietly  enjoy 
the  freedom  &  happiness  which  the  beneficent  father  of  the 
human  race  has  kindly  allotted  to  us,  &  having  with  grief 
&  abhorrence  long  beheld  a  considerable  number  of  our  fel 
low  men  groaning  under  the  iron  hand  of  Slavery,  many  of 
whom  are  entitled  by  the  wise  and  humane  laws  of  our  coun 
try  to  an  exemption  from  this  cruel  bondage;  and  being 
desirous  to  cooperate  in  a  systematic  way  with  the  several 
societies  which  have  been  or  that  may  be  hereafter  formed  in 
the  united  States  or  elsewhere  for  the  purpose  of  promoting 
the  abolition  of  Slavery  -  The  Subscribers  have  associated 
themselves  under  the  name  &  title  of",  etc. 

The  Society  was  to  meet  twice  a  year,  once  at  New  Haven 
on  the  day  after  the  Yale  Commencement,  and  again  in  Hart 
ford  on  Election  Day. 

In  January,  1791,  Mr.  Baldwin  drew  a  petition  to  Congress, 
which  was  sent  in  over  the  signatures  of  himself  as  Secre 
tary,  and  President  Stiles  of  Yale  as  President  of  the  Society. 
They  joined  as  such,  by  order  of  the  Society,  in  the  petition, 
praying  for  the  prevention  of  the  horrors  of  the  slave  trade, 
and  its  general  restriction,  so  far  as  the  Constitution  would 
permit ;  and  stating  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  Society,  calm 
reflection  would  "at  lest  convince  the  world  that  the  whole 


Public  Activities,  not  Political  3 1 5 

system  of  African  slavery  is  unjust  in  its  nature  -  -  impolitic 
in  its  principles,  and  in  its  consequence  ruinous  to  the  indus 
try  and  enterprize  of  the  citizens  of  these  States." 

In  particular,  the  petition  asked  that  Congress  would  "pro 
hibit  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  from  carrying  on  the 
trade  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  Foreigners  with  slaves," 
and  "prohibit  foreigners  from  fitting  out  Vessels  in  any  port 
of  the  United  States  for  transporting  persons  from  Africa 
to  any  foreign  port." 

At  the  Commencement-week  meeting  of  the  Society,  in  the 
same  year,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  chosen  to  deliver  the  customary 
address  before  the  next  Hartford  meeting.  Allusion  to  this 
is  made  in  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  to  him  from 
Rev.  Charles  Backus,  D.D. : 

"Somers  Ocf  6  1791. 
Dear  Sir, 

I  am  highly  gratified  by  your  growing  reputation, 
and  that  you  do  not  aim  to  acquire  influence  by  coarse  and 
indelicate  witticisms,  but  on  the  surer  ground  of  delicate  and 
judicious  behaviour. 

By  the  papers  I  learn  the  proceedings  of  the  Connecticut 
Society  for  the  promotion  of  freedom  &c  in  Sept  last."  .... 
"I  congratulate  you  on  the  honorable  appointment  for  next 
May ;  and  doubt  not,  that  you  will  add  to  the  increasing  light 
on  the  subject  of  the  Slave  Trade.  Sermons  &  orations 
against  the  inhuman  traffic,  and  circulated  by  the  Press,  must 
aid  the  cause  of  the  oppressed  Africans." 

Dr.  Stiles  records  in  his  diary,1  that  about  130  persons 
attended  the  Election  dinner  on  May  10,  1792,  and  that  in 
the  afternoon  "Mr.  Simeon  Baldwin  delivered  an  Oration  in 
Mr.  Strong's  Desk  to  the  African  Society."  The  "desk" 
was  the  pulpit  of  Rev.  Dr.  Nathan  Strong  (Yale,  Class  of 
1769),  pastor  of  the  first  church  of  Hartford.  The  name 

1  HI,  449- 


3 1 6  Public  A ctivities,  not  Political 

of  the  Society  had  been  found  too  long  for  common  use  and 
it  was  now  generally  called  the  African  Society.  A  few 
extracts  from  the  oration  follow : 

"The  constitutional  objects  of  this  Socy  are  three 

1.  To  restore  to  freedom,  those  who  are  holden  in  bondage 
by  fraud  or  violence,  without  the  countenance  of  Law  — 

2.  To  inforce  the  due  observance  of  the  Laws  of  this  State, 
favouring  a  gradual  abolition  of  Slavery  — 

3.  To  coopperate  with  other  Societies  in  those  measures 
which  will  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  those  in  bondage  &  whh 
will  eventually  abolish  slavery  from  the  earth  -          ... 
.     .     "A  Law  of  the  State  requiring  a  Register  of  all  Slaves, 
and  of  all  transfers  of  them  would  not  be  unreasonable  & 
would  prevent  much  fraud  and  imposition  upon  Negroes  — 

-  The  existing  Laws  of  this  State,  which  favour  the  gradual 
abolition   of   Slavery,   are   principly  comprehended   in   two 
Statutes  —     The  first  was  passed  at  the  revision  of  our  Sta 
tutes  in  1784  —    By  this  it  is  enacted  that  no  Slave  shall  at 
any  time  thereafter  be   imported   into  this   State,   &  both 
importers  and  purchasers  are  liable  to  a  penalty  of    f  100  — 
No  child  born  of  a  Slave,  after  the  Ist  of  March  1784  shall  be 
holden  in  servitude  after  25  years  of  age  —    Masters  are  also 
permitted  to  emancipate  their  slaves  -  -  but  are  made  liable 
to  future  maintenance,  unless  their  manumission  is  made  with 
the  consent  &  approbation  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town 
where  they  dwell  — 

By  another  statute  passed  in  1788  -  -  The  Citizens  of  this 
State  are  totally  prohibited  all  connexion  with  the  African 
Slave  Trade,  under  a  penalty  of  £50  for  every  Slave  Inhab 
itant  of  Africa  received  on  board  any  vessel  with  a  view  for 
transportation,  &  £500  for  every  vessel  employed  in  the  Trade 

-  If  any  person  shall  kidnap  or  forceably  carry  out  of  this 
State  any  free  negro,  or  any  person  intitled  to  freedom  at 
the  age  of  25  years,  or  be  aiding  therein,  he  shall  forfeit 
£100  --  in  each  case  one  half  to  the  State  --  the  other  to  the 
complainant  -       In  the  same  Statute  it  is  also  enacted  that 
the  Possessor  of  any  child  entitled  to  freedom  at  the  age  of 


Public  Activities,  not  Political  3 1 7 

25  —  shall  cause  to  be  enrolled  on  the  reccords  of  the  Town 
where  he  lives  --  his  own  name  as  possr,  the  name,  age  &  Sex 
of  the  child,  under  oath  on  penalty  of  40 /  pr  month  neglect  — 
These  provisions  are  certainly  liberal:  they  strike  at  the 
root  of  the  evil  and  will  in  time,  if  duly  observed,  wholly 
eradicate  it  - 

.  .  "Permit  me  also  to  suggest  another  expedient.  As 
Slavery  was  introduced  under  the  Countenance  of  Law,  can 
Gov*  better  attone  for  the  evil  than  by  removing  all  obstacles 
to  emancipation,  &  support  by  public  expence  the  few  who 
by  poverty  will  become  burthensome  —  we  are  apt  to  appre 
hend  more  expences  from  this  source  than  are  ever  realized 
—  look  round  among  the  free  blacks  within  the  circle  of 
your  acquaintance:  the  instances  are  rare  that  manumitted 

slaves  are  ever  expensive  — " 

.  .  "A  vigilant  attention  to  the  execution  of  these  Laws  is 
one  of  the  great  objects  of  this  Institution.  To  the  shame  of 
this  enlightened  State  —  the  African  trade  for  Slaves  is  still 
pursued  by  our  fellow  citizens,  in  defiance  of  Law  —  Sev 
eral  vessels  have  been  built,  owned,  &  fitted  out  in  this  State 
&  employed  in  this  Trade  within  the  two  last  years  -  -  in  one 
of  those  vessels  it  is  said  that  every  seaman  on  board,  died 
by  sickness  or  cruelty  in  Africa  or  on  the  voyage.  Several 
persons  who  were  free  or  entitled  to  freedom  have  been  con 
veyed  from  this  State  since  the  passing  of  those  Laws,  and 
are  now  drinking  the  bitter  cup  of  slavery  in  the  Southern 
States  -  The  same  iniquity  will  in  a  few  years  befal  many 
of  those  who  will  hereafter  be  entitled  to  freedom  at  the  age 
of  twenty  five,  &  with  equal  impunity,  unless  the  provision  of 
Law  for  registring  their  names  &  births  are  strictly  attended 
to- 

In  1818  the  American  Society  for  Colonizing  the  Free 
People  of  Colour  of  the  United  States  was  organized,  and 
two  years  later  the  "Auxiliary  Society  of  New  Haven"  was 
formed  to  cooperate  with  it.  Judge  Baldwin  was  a  friend 
of  colonization,  and  was  made  President  of  this  auxiliary. 
The  movement,  however,  fell  flat.  It  was  found  to  be  the 


3 T  8  Public  Activities,  not  Political 

general  impression  that  it  came  from  Southern  holders  of 
slaves  who  were  anxious  to  keep  free  negroes  away  from 
theirs.  Another  meeting  held  in  1824,  with  Judge  Baldwin 
in  the  chair,  served  somewhat  to  dissipate  this  feeling,  and 
he  was  appointed  chairman  of  a  committee  of  five  to  cor 
respond  with  what  was  now  called  the  American  Colonization 
Society.  Three  years  afterwards,  in  1827,  a  State  auxiliary 
was  formed,  which  did  some  useful  work. 

In  1826  a  new  society  was  formed  for  bettering  the  con 
dition  of  the  negro  population  of  the  city.  It  was  called  the 
African  Improvement  Society  of  New  Haven.  Judge  Bald 
win  was  one  of  its  prominent  adherents,  and  in  1829  presided 
at  its  annual  meeting. 

In  1799,  the  Connecticut  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences 
was  incorporated  and  organized, — the  third  body  of  that  kind 
established  in  the  United  States.2  He  was  its  first  record 
ing  secretary,  and  "Keeper  of  Records."  President  Dwight, 
writing  in  1810,  described  the  Academy  as  the  only  literary 
society  in  New  Haven,  and  it  has  since  done  important  ser 
vice  to  the  country  by  the  publication  of  its  Transactions. 

Anything  that  tended  to  promote  education,  whether  ele 
mentary  or  advanced,  always  appealed  to  Judge  Baldwin's 
sympathies. 

In  1801,  he  was  a  subscriber  to  the  funds  of  the  "Proprie 
tors  of  Union  School"  in  New  Haven,  which  was  chartered 
in  that  year,  and  one  of  its  managing  committee.  From  1812 
to  1839  he  served  as  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  ancient 
Hopkins  Grammar  School  of  New  Haven;  and  from  1799 
to  1842,  as  treasurer  of  the  White  Haven  School  Society, 
which  managed  part  of  the  public  schools  in  the  city. 

In  1816  he  was  one  of  the  most  active  in  founding  the 

2  The  others  are  the  American  Philosophical  Society  and  the  Ameri 
can  Academy  of  Arts  &  Sciences. 


Public  Activities,  not  Political  3 1 9 

American  Asylum  for  the  education  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb, 
at  Hartford,  and  collected  funds  in  aid  of  it  at  New  Haven. 

While  he  was  on  the  bench,  a  Society  was  organized  under 
the  name  of  the  Connecticut  Society  for  the  Promotion  of 
Good  Morals.  It  published  several  addresses,  and  was  of 
especial  service  in  pushing  the  cause  of  temperance.  He 
was  one  of  its  leading  supporters,  and  its  president  in  1816. 
He  had  been  also  in  1813  the  chairman  of  a  local  auxiliary 
society  in  New  Haven. 

He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Social  Library  of  New 
Haven,  formed  as  a  voluntary  association  in  1808  and  incor 
porated  in  1810.  This  was  a  subscription  library,  the  annual 
fee  being  one  dollar,  and  gradually  accumulated  2,000  vol 
umes.  One  of  the  articles  of  its  constitution  was  that  "no 
Novels,  Romances,  Tales  or  Plays"  should  be  admitted  into 
the  library,  unless  by  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  members,  at 
a  legal  meeting.  A  catalogue  of  its  books  in  1815  shows 
that  only  Ccelebs  In  Search  of  a  Wife,  Don  Quixote,  Miss 
Edgeworth's  popular  Tales  and  Tales  of  Fashionable  Life, 
Forester's  American  Tale,  Gil  Bias,  Johnson's  Rasselas, 
MarmonteFs  Moral  Tales,  PercivaPs  Tales,  and  the  Vicar 
of  Wakefield  ran  this  gauntlet  successfully. 

In  1812  it  had  a  collection  of  over  500  volumes  and  had 
over  fifty  members.  Nathan  Beers,  Simeon  Baldwin  and 
George  Hoadly  were  then  appointed  a  committee  to  endeavor 
to  enlarge  the  membership,  and  issued  a  notice  in  the  Con 
necticut  Journal  for  February  6,  1812,  explaining  the  char 
acter  of  the  organization,  in  which  they  were  careful  to  state 
that  in  practical  operation  "the  prohibition  in  respect  to 
fictitious  works,  while  it  excluded  all  the  frivolous  trash 
which  constitutes  so  large  a  part  of  many  libraries,  does  not 
prevent  the  introduction  of  those  works  of  this  class  which 
are  of  acknowledged  excellence." 


3 2o  Public  Activities,  not  Political 

A  month  later  Judge  Baldwin  was  elected  President  of  the 
Company,  and  held  that  position  for  several  years. 

The  original  burying  ground  for  the  town  of  New  Haven 
was  that  part  of  the  central  "Green"  lying  adjacent  to  the 
first  church.  It  was  unsightly  and  out  of  place. 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  was  at  the  head  of  a  small  body 
of  intelligent  men,  determined  to  accomplish  its  abandon 
ment,  and  prepared  to  offer  a  new  and  unobjectionable  site. 
Simeon  Baldwin  was  one  of  this  body,  and  was  named  in  a 
charter  for  the  "Proprietors  of  the  New  Burying  Ground 
in  New  Haven/'  which  it  obtained  in  1797,  as  the  first  clerk, 
to  hold  office  until  another  should  be  chosen.  He  held  until 
1815,  and  was  also  one  of  the  "standing  committee"  of 
five.  In  both  these  capacities  he  was  an  efficient  aid  to  Mr. 
Hillhouse  in  his  work  of  grading,  setting  out  trees  and  gen 
eral  beautification,  which  soon  came  to  distinguish  New 
Haven  as  the  possessor  of  the  first  regularly  laid  out  and 
handsomely  planted  cemetery  in  the  United  States. 

In  1818,  the  New  Haven  County  Agricultural  Society  was 
chartered  for  the  promotion  of  agriculture.  Its  members 
had  previously  been  associated  as  a  voluntary  society  for 
the  same  purpose.  Judge  Baldwin  was  one  of  those  spe 
cially  interested  in  it.  In  May,  1820,  he  signed  as  chairman 
of  a  committee  of  the  Society,  and  presumably  wrote,  a 
forcible  appeal  for  new  members,  from  which  the  following 
extracts  are  taken : 

"To  the  Farmers 

of 
New-Haven  County. 

The  Agricultural  Society,  established  in  this  county,  was 
the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  State.  Its  members  are  few,  and 
its  funds  are  too  limited.  But  since  the  counties  of  Hart 
ford  and  Litchfield  have  made  great  exertions  on  this  subject, 


Public  Activities,  not  Political  32 1 

and  have  had  their  public  Shows  and  Fairs,  the  farmers  of 
those  counties  have  experienced  great  benefit,  and  have 
offered  to  us  an  example  worthy  of  imitation. 

While  all  other  classes  of  men  are  associated  for  the 
advancement  of  their  particular  callings,  you,  separated 
from  each  other  by  the  landmarks  of  your  farms,  are  man 
aging  your  affairs  in  your  own  way,  without  those  aids, 
which  the  knowledge  or  experience  of  others  might  furnish ; 
and  if  you  adopt  errors  in  practice,  they  too  often  descend, 
with  your  lands,  to  your  children.  In  this  situation,  you  will 
seldom  know  the  real  state  of  the  market,  or  the  real  merits 
of  the  various  improvements,  which  are  said  to  be  making  in 
husbandry. 

The  newspapers  from  different  quarters  notice  great 
improvements  in  the  structure  of  ploughs,  harrows,  threshing 
machines,  and  other  implements  of  husbandry.  They  also 
notice  great  improvements  in  the  different  kinds  of  live  stock, 
and  many  savings  in  the  mode  of  feeding  them,  and  they  pro 
pose  many  modes  of  enriching  land,  which  we  have  not  tried. 
And  very  little  shall  we  ever  know  on  these  subjects,  unless 
we  can  collect  together  the  wisdom  and  experience  of  actual 
farmers. 

It  is  well  for  our  country,  that,  in  this  dearth  of  business 
and  scarcity  of  money,  the  public  mind  should  be  turned  to 
the  earth  for  support :  that  governors  and  legislatures  should 
be  offering  aid  to  Agricultural  Societies :  that  men  of  capital, 
and  professional  men,  should  be  turning  their  attention  to 
farming:  but  all  these  things  will  be  ineffectual,  unless  the 
real  farmers  will  come  forward  to  sustain  the  work. 

The  expense  of  joining  this  society  is  small,  and  the  annual 
tax  is  limited  to  a  small  sum.  Any  member  can  withdraw 
at  any  time,  by  notice  given  to  the  town  clerk  in  his  town. 
Most  of  the  monies  collected  will  be  distributed  in  premiums 
at  the  annual  Shows.  A  small  sum  only  will  be  reserved  for 
contingencies.  Thus,  nearly  all  the  money,  which  you  pay, 
will  be  returned  to  you  within  the  year." 

.  The  intention  of  such  a  Show  in  the  present  year  would 
be  to  give  premiums,  more  or  less,  to  every  deserving  thing 
in  the  Agricultural  or  Manufacturing  line;  and  if  in  this 
ii 


322  Public  A ctivities,  not  Political 

way  we  can  give  notice  to  the  public  at  large,  that  in  this 
county  they  may  find  the  best  working  oxen,  or  the  best  of 
any  thing  else  in  the  line  of  farming,  or  that  we  can  furnish 
the  best  hats,  the  best  combs,  or  the  best  of  any  thing  in  the 
line  of  manufactures,  we  may  in  this  way  bring  an  addition 
of  wealth  to  our  county. 

In  these  hard  times,  every  county  must  look  out  for  itself ; 
so  must  every  town  and  every  family,  and  every  individual: 
we  must  make  the  most  of  our  means,  and  the  least  of  our 
expenditures ;  and  we  trust,  that  the  extension  of  this  society 
will  lead  to  measures,  conducive  to  economy,  industry,  profit, 
and  general  prosperity. 

Every  person,  to  whom  this  is  addressed,  if  he  has  not 
already  become  a  member,  is  requested  to  consider  himself 
invited  to  join  the  society;  and  the  members  of  committees 
are  desired  to  exert  themselves  at  all  times  to  procure  the 
objects  of  the  society,  and  particularly  within  the  time  limited 
for  the  first  return  of  new  members/' 

No  great  success  met  this  appeal,  and  after  a  few  years 
the  Society  became  dormant  and  its  annual  "Show"  was 
abandoned  for  the  more  showy  exhibition  of  flowers  made 
every  year  by  the  Horticultural  Society  of  New  Haven,  which 
was  incorporated  in  1832.  Judge  Baldwin  believed  that 
these  organizations  should  unite  in  promoting  a  display,  both 
agricultural  and  horticultural,  in  its  character,  and  led  in  a 
successful  movement  to  revive  the  Agricultural  Society  for 
this  purpose.  He  was  then  chosen  its  President,  and  held 
the  office  until  the  fall  of  1840,  when  he  declined  a  reelection 
on  the  plea  of  age. 

He  furnished,  from  time  to  time,  articles  for  the  Agri 
cultural  Almanac,  annually  published  for  New  Haven 
County.  These  were  mostly  selected  from  periodicals  or 
treatises.  Occasionally  he  contributed  to  agricultural  jour 
nals  facts  or  theories  which  he  thought,  from  his  own  obser 
vation  and  experience,  worth  special  attention. 


Public  A  ctivities,  not  Political  3  2  3 

In  the  annual  town  meeting  in  November,  1822,  the  town 
of  New  Haven3  appointed  a  committee  of  six  "to  devise  a 
plan  for  lessening  the  expenses  of  pauperism  in  this  town." 
Judge  Baldwin  was  its  chairman,  and  in  November,  1823, 
presented  its  report,  which  he  undoubtedly  drew.  It  stated 
that  the  committee  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  town 
poor  might  "be  made  to  support  themselves  by  agriculture 
and  a  few  simple  manufactures  under  an  intelligent  and 
efficient  superintendence."  Paupers  could  thus  be  elevated 
to  the  rank  of  industrious  citizens.  Some  of  them  had 
become  dependents  on  the  town,  without  fault  of  their  own. 
The  committee  "would  not  class  these  deserving  but  unfor 
tunate  persons  with  those  who  have  reduced  themselves  to 
rags  by  their  aversion  to  labour,  or  by  a  criminal  indulgence 
in  the  use  of  ardent  spirits.  But  the  aged  and  infirm  are 
more  comfortable,  and  lead  more  useful  lives  when  in  the  use 
of  moderate  labour,  -  -  labour  adapted  to  their  strength,  than 
when  in  a  state  of  complete  inaction." 

The  committee  therefore  recommended  the  purchase  of  a 
farm  of  not  less  than  75  acres  as  a  permanent  establishment 
for  the  support  of  the  poor  of  the  town,  on  which  to  erect  a 
stone  building  for  a  House  of  Industry;  or,  if  preferred, 
the  enlargement  of  the  existing  Alms  House  farm,  by  pur 
chasing  75  to  100  acres  more.  The  material  could  be  cheaply 
procured  from  West  Rock  or  Neck  Rock.4  "If,"  the  report 
concluded,  "we  had  buildings  of  the  best  construction  and 
of  the  most  permanent  kind;  if  we  had  a  farm  of  the  richest 
land  and  large  enough  to  accomplish  every  object  we  have 
in  view;  if  we  had  a  board  of  directors  chosen  from  the 

3  The  city  embraced  only  a  part  of  the  town.    The  town,  as  a  whole, 
had  charge  of  paupers. 

4  A  name  then  used  for  what  is  now  known  as  Snake  Rock  and 
Indian  Head. 


324  Public  Activities,  not  Political 

wisest  among  our  citizens ;  still  the  success  of  an  establish 
ment  of  the  kind  contemplated  would  depend  very  much  on 
the  character  of  the  superintendent.  This  officer  should  not 
only  be  a  well-informed,  practical  farmer,  but  an  intelligent, 
sagacious  man,  who  by  his  knowledge  of  the  human  heart, 
understands  managing  men,  although  of  wayward  tempers 
and  perverse  disposition.  The  committee  presume  that  such 
a  man  may  be  obtained  either  from  our  own  town,  or  from 
abroad;  and  they  agree  in  saying  that  such  a  person  should 
receive  a  handsome  compensation." 

No  ardent  spirits  should  be  allowed  in  the  building.  There 
should  be  no  opportunity  for  the  paupers  to  procure  them 
elsewhere.  "No  plan  has  been  found  so  effectual  in  accom 
plishing  these  objects,  as  the  erection  of  a  brick  wall,  laid  in 
mortar,  around  the  buildings,  made  ten  or  twelve  feet  high 
and  crowned  with  spikes.  At  Salem,  in  Massachusetts,  they 
have  a  wall  of  this  kind  and  a  gate  keeper,  and  no  person 
of  a  suspicious  appearance  is  admitted  without  a  passport."5 

A  special  town  meeting  was  held  on  December  29,  1823, 
to  take  this  report  into  consideration,  but  the  plan  proposed 
was  never  carried  out.  Something  in  the  same  general  line 
was,  however,  ordered  two  years  later.  In  1825  a  new  com 
mittee  of  five  was  appointed  at  the  annual  town  meeting,  to 
report  if  any  alteration  or  improvement  in  the  Alms  House 
was  necessary.  Judge  Baldwin  was  made  chairman. 

It  reported,  in  December,  in  a  paper  evidently  composed 
by  him,  in  favor  of  a  new  brick  wall,  ten  feet  high,  around 
the  building,  and  the  construction  of  a  stone  lockup  for 
criminals,  drunkards,  and  others  under  correction,  with 
rooms  overhead  for  a  school  and  work  shop. 

This  report  was  accepted,  and  the  action  recommended 
was  ordered.6 

5  Conn.  Herald  for  Dec.  9,  1823. 

6  Conn.  Herald  for  Dec.  27,  1825. 


Public  A ctivities,  not  Political  325 

All  title  to  lands  in  Connecticut  is  derived  from  the  charter 
granted  to  the  Colony  in  1662,  and  patents  afterwards  from 
time  to  time  granted  by  the  General  Assembly.  Titles  to 
lands  in  New  Haven  came  through  such  a  patent  granted  to 
the  town  in  1685.  During  the  seventeenth  century  most  of 
these  lands,  which  were  originally  held  by  the  proprietors  in 
common,  were  divided  up  among  them  by  proper  conveyance. 
Some  parcels  remained  undivided  and  are  undivided  still. 
The  right  to  dispose  of  these  is  reserved  to  a  standing  com 
mittee  of  the  proprietors,  called  the  Committee  of  Proprietors 
of  Common  and  Undivided  Lands.7  Of  this  committee  Judge 
Baldwin  was  for  many  years  a  member. 

The  first  hospital  in  the  State  was  chartered  in  1826,  under 
the  name  of  the  "General  Hospital  Society  of  Connecticut." 
Its  establishment  was  to  be  at  New  Haven.  The  State  made 
an  appropriation  of  $5,000  in  its  favor  in  1828,  and  some 
$7,000  was  subscribed  by  private  individuals. 

Judge  Baldwin  was  chosen  President  of  the  Society  and, 
in  1831,  headed  an  appeal  by  the  directors,  presumably  from 
his  pen,  to  the  public,  for  further  contributions.  This  being 
only  partially  successful,  the  directors  brought,  in  1832,  a 
petition  for  another  appropriation  of  $5,000  to  the  General 
Assembly.  The  joint  committee  to  which  it  was  referred 
proving  friendly,  he  also  drew  up  its  report.  This  was  not 
adopted  at  the  time,  but  may  be  regarded  as  the  beginning 
of  a  movement,  ultimately  successful,  to  secure  an  annual 
grant  from  the  public  treasury  to  all  hospitals  in  the  State. 

Judge  Baldwin  had  begun  life  as  a  moderate  drinker.  A 
wide  temperance  agitation  arose  in  the  United  States,  in  1826, 
and  during  the  next  ten  years  all  the  States  but  two  had  their 
temperance  societies,  and  four  thousand  distilleries  were 
closed.  He  was  active  in  organizing  the  "New  Haven  City 

7  Dawson  v.  Orange,  78  Conn.  Law  Reports,  96,  115;  Conn.  Statutes, 
Revision  of  1783,  114;  Revision  of  1821,  304;  Revision  of  1849, 


326  Public  A ctivities,  not  Political 

Temperance  Society"  in  1829,  of  which  he  was  the  first 
President.  The  next  year  a  "New  Haven  County  Tem 
perance  Society"  was  formed,  under  his  influence  and  direc 
tion.  They  did  good  work  and  had  a  large  membership, 
each  of  whom  pledged  himself  to  drink  thenceforward  no 
ardent  spirits  as  a  beverage.  A  committee  of  the  New 
Haven  Society  reported,  through  Professor  Denison  Olm- 
stead  (Yale,  Class  of  1813),  at  a  meeting  held  after  the 
effects  of  the  movement  had  been  ascertained, 

"that  the  sales  of  ardent  spirits  were  very  much  diminished 

-  at  least  one  half  -  -  that  among  the  respectable  inhabitants 
all  appearances  of  inebriating  liquors  had  nearly  vanished; 
there  being  none  seen  on  side-boards,  or  offered  in  the  way 
of  courtesy,  or  scarcely  found  at  the  gayest  visiting  parties  — 
that  those  who  drank  in  any  public  place,  accompanied  it 
with  an  apology  which  denoted  a  consciousness  that  the  prac 
tice  was  no  longer  reputable  -  -  that  several  retailers  had 
stopped  vending  ardent  spirits  —  that  nearly  every  mechanics 
establishment  in  the  city  had  entirely  discarded  the  use  of  it 

-  and  that  various  individuals  among  the  laboring  classes, 
some  of  whom  were  frequently  exposed  to  hardships  and  the 
vicissitudes  of  the  weather,  had  entirely  relinquished  the  use 
of  spirits ;   and  one  carman  was  mentioned  who  had  refused 
to  transport  the  article. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  city  was 
still  defiled  by  a  great  number  of  grog-shops  to  which  the 
lowest  classes  continue  to  resort,  and  that  a  considerable  por 
tion  of  our  respectable  inhabitants  still  decline  taking  a 
decided  &  active  part  in  furthering  the  objects  of  the  Society." 

In  1844  ne  was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  "United 
Brothers  of  Temperance,"  in  New  York.  In  a  letter  accept 
ing  this  election,  he  wrote  thus : 

"I  have  long  considered  the  cause  of  Temperance  among 
the  first —  if  not  the  first  among  the  benevolent  enterprises 
of  the  Day.  It  must  accompany  &  generally  will  precede  the 


Public  A ctivities,  not  Political  327 

successful  efforts  of  all  the  others  -  I  was  early  convinced 
of  its  importance  &  took  part  with  others  to  promote  the 
cause,  but  our  plans  were  then  imperfect  our  object  unpopular 
&  our  success  comparatively  small  -  Now  although  the 
infirmities  of  old  age  prevent  my  being  active  in  the  cause, 
I  thank  God  I  am  not  too  old  to  feel  the  lively  emotions,  which 
the  wonderful  progress  in  reformation,  attending  the  new 
pledge,  is  calculated  to  produce.  We  certainly  live  in  a 
wonderful  age  —  An  age  peculiarly  devoted  to  ameliorate 
the  condition  of  man  —  &  in  nothing  more  conspicuous,  than 
in  the  temperance  reformation,  &  in  extending  the  hand  of 
brotherly  kindness  &  affection  to  the  persons  &  families  of 
inebriates  reformed  &  reforming  —  The  extensive  &  rapid 
spread  of  the  temperance  reformation,  embracing  more  or 
less  of  the  whole  civilized  world,  is  animating  proof  that  it 
is  one  of  the  heavenly  precursors  of  a  more  glorious  era  in 
the  Destinies  of  man." 

In  January,  1830,  he  was  chairman  of  a  large  meeting  of 
citizens  of  New  Haven  to  protest  against  the  removal  of  the 
Cherokees  from  Georgia  without  their  free  consent.  An 
address  to  Congress  was  issued,  which  he  signed  as  chairman, 
and  probably  wrote. 


CHAPTER  X 
TERM  IN  CONGRESS 

Elias  Perkins  (Yale,  Class  of  1786),  one  of  the  Repre 
sentatives  in  Congress  for  Connecticut,  resigned  his  seat  early 
in  the  fall  of  1803,  and,  at  a  special  election  (called  in  conse 
quence  of  the  President's  proclamation  of  July  16,  summon 
ing  Congress  to  meet  in  special  session  on  October  17)  to  fill 
the  vacancy,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  elected.  The  following 
correspondence  indicates  that  it  was  an  unsought  honor. 

Governor  Jonathan  Trumbull  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"New  Haven  15th  Oct°    1803 
Sir 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  That  on  counting  the 
Votes  of  the  Freemen  of  this  State  -  -  it  appears  that  you 
are  chosen  a  Representative  of  the  People  of  this  State  in 
the  Eighth  Congress  of  the  United  States,  in  the  place  of  the 
Hon°  Elias  Perkins  who  has  resigned  his  Seat  - 

Your  acceptance  of  this  appointment  will  be  very  agree 
able  to 

Sir 

Your  Obed1  Servant 

Jona  Trumbull 
Hon°  Simeon  Baldwin" 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Governor  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

"New  Haven  Ocf.  26th.  1803 
Sir 

I  have  the  Honor  to  acknowledge  the  rec*  of  your  Excel- 
lencys  Letter  informing  me  that  I  am  chosen  a  Representative 
of  the  People  of  this  State  in  the  eighth  Congress  of  the 
United  States  — 


Term  in  Congress  3  2  9 

Altho'  I  intended,  if  timely  notice  of  a  vacancy  had  per 
mitted,  to  decline  any  honor  which  would  place  me  in  a 
situation  calling  for  so  great  a  sacrifice  of  private  Interest  — 
Yet  under  existing  Circumstances,  I  feel  myself  bound  to 
accept  the  appointment  - 

I  shall  hasten  to  the  seat  of  Gov1.  as  soon  as  I  can  make 
the  necessary  arrangements 

I  am  with  great  respect  & 
Your  Excellency's 

most  obed  Ser1 

Simeon  Baldwin 
His  Exy  Jonn.  Trumbull  - 

Governor  of  the  State  of  Connecticut 

New  Haven 

Mr.  Baldwin  first  appeared  in  the  House  on  November  21. 
His  first  vote  was  cast  for  the  repeal  of  the  Bankrupt  Act, 
which  he  thought  resulted  in  the  perpetration  of  many 
frauds. 

On  November  22  he  wrote  Mr.  Denison : 

"We  have  not  yet  seriously  taken  up  a  single  important 
question  in  Congress.  We  meet  about  n  &  adjourn  before 
i.  Was  I  democratically  disposed,  I  should  have  serious 
doubt  whether  our  services  here  were  worth  six  Dollars  pr 
day." 

All  the  Congressional  delegation  from  Connecticut  were 
Federalists.  Most  of  them  lived  at  the  boarding  house  of 
Captain  Coyle  on  the  hill  near  the  Capitol.  His  colleague, 
Col.  Benjamin  Talmadge  (Yale,  Class  of  1773)  and  he 
shared  the  same  room.  On  November  29,  he  wrote  to  his 
wife: 

This  place  can  never  I  think  be  a  flourishing  City  nor  do 
I  think  it  calculated  to  be  so  convenient  for  the  dispatch  of 
business  as  it  might  be,  altho  immense  sums  of  public  money 
have  already  been  expended  in  making  it  what  it  is  —  and 


330  Term  in  Congress 

what  it  is  shows  the  absolute  necessity  of  expending  more  to 
make  it  answer  the  object  intended.  The  Territory  of 
Columbia  includes  a  tract  10  miles  square  —  including  Alex 
andria  which  I  have  not  seen  it  is  about  8  miles  from  here 
&  it  is  said  to  contain  more  Houses  &  Inhabitants  than  New 
Haven  —  Georgetown  -  -  about  4  miles  from  this  which  is 
quite  a  thick  settled  place,  built  principally  with  brick  &  con 
taining  some  handsome  houses  —  &  the  City  of  Washington 
properly  so  called  -  -  this  comprehends  a  large  extent  of 
Land,  all  laid  out  in  regular  form  —  on  paper,  tho  little  of 
this  regularity  appears  to  the  traveller  -  -  as  the  streets  are 
not  fenced  and  the  buildings  are  very  much  scattered  —  The 
Capitol  is  on  the  highest  ground :  to  this  the  Streets  point  — 
this  building  when  finished  will  be  the  largest  probably  in 
America  —  only  one  wing  is  as  yet  erected,  in  that  the  Senate 
sit,  but  their  apartment  tho'  very  large  &  elegant,  takes  up 
but  a  small  part  of  the  room  in  that  wing  —  the  rest  is  divided 
into  a  Library,  Court  Room,  Come  Rooms  &c  -  The  wing 
for  the  Representatives  is  but  just  begun  -  -  they  now  sit  in 
a  temporary  building,  which  is  made  convenient  &  handsome 
inside  -  The  Capitol  &  the  presidents  House  are  both  built 
of  white  freestone  handsomely  chisseled  &  made  smoth  & 
ornamented  with  suitable  mouldings  which  give  it  a  beautiful 
appearance  but  the  Presidents  House  is  y2  mile  from  the 
Capitol  &  the  Principal  offices  are  near  the  Presidents  -  -  the 
foreign  ministers  &  some  of  the  more  showy  members  of 
Congress  live  at  Georgetown  -  I  think  it  would  have  been 
much  better  on  a  variety  of  accounts  to  have  erected  the 
public  buildings  either  at  Georgetown  or  Alexandria;  the 
accommodations  would  have  been  better,  &  the  public  would 
have  saved  probably  millions  of  Dollars  in  erecting  a  New 
City  which  with  the  others  I  think  the  surrounding  country 
or  the  Commerce  from  the  River  cannot  support  -  Yet  I 
think  the  Situation  capable,  with  expence  enough  of  being 
made  into  a  butiful  place  —  " 

Captain  Coyle's  charge  for  board  and  lodging  was  $10  a 
week.  This  did  not  include  any  wine  or  spirits.  Those 
who  desired  them  generally  clubbed  together  for  their  pur- 


Term  in  Congress  3  3 : 

chase,  each  member  of  the  club  acting  as  a  purveyor  and 
ordering  the  supply  in  turn.  In  February,  1804,  Mr.  Bald 
win  acted  in  this  capacity  for  such  a  club,  and  among  other 
things  paid  $11  for  an  iron-bound  five  gallon  keg  of  "Old 
Peach  Brandy." 

The  compensation  of  a  Representative  in  Congress  at  this 
time  was  $6  a  day  and  one  mileage  for  each  session,  going 
and  returning,  at  the  rate  of  thirty  cents  a  mile.  In  1803-4 
he  received  $967  on  these  accounts;  and  in  1804-5,  $895.50. 

The  Congress  then  sat  but  a  small  portion  of  the  year, 
and  he  was  able  to  keep  up  a  good  part  of  his  practice  at  home. 
He  also,  when  in  Washington,  was  occasionally  employed  in 
drawing  claims  for  a  patent,  and  aiding  in  securing  its  issue. 

The  following  letter  of  retainer  from  one  of  his  col 
leagues  in  the  House  and  juniors  in  the  profession,  Calvin 
Goddard  (Dartmouth,  Class  of  1786),  indicates  that  his 
services  in  legislative  hearings  were  highly  valued. 

"Hartford,  May  15,  1804 
Dear  Sir, 

A  Petition  for  a  division  of  the  first  Ecclesiastical 
Society  in  Lebanon,  is  pending  before  the  Legislature  — 
Messrs  Griswold  &  Clark,  who  have  been  of  Council  for  the 
Petitioners,  are  both  absent  —  I  am  left  to  combat  Demus 
Gilson  &  the  Devil  -  I  have  long  found  it  difficult  to  resist 
the  latter  Gentleman,  only  —  the  former  has  become  more 
adroit  than  his  master  -  -  You  must  come  &  help  me  —  the 
cause  is  now  assigned  for  Friday,  calculating  that  your  sober 
face  would  be  here  to-day  -  Pray  come  to-morrow  -  If 
you  cannot  be  prepared  untill  the  beginning  of  next  week  we 
must  postpone  the  trial  -  I  write  at  the  request  of  the  Saints 
of  Lebanon  who  believe  much  in  your  ability  to  lay  evil  spirits 
-  Seriously  however,  the  agents  for  the  Petitioners  are  very 
desirous  that  you  should  be  here  tomorrow  — 

Yours  Sincerely 

C  Goddard." 


3  3  2  Term  in  Congress 

On  March  16,  1804,  he  writes  to  his  wife: 

"I  had  flattered  myself  that  my  stay  here  would  have  been 
of  some  public  service  —  Federal  men  have  in  some  instances 
been  serviceable,  where  the  measures  have  been  so  gross  as 
to  divide  the  less  thorough  Democrats  from  their  leaders  — 
in  such  cases  they  have  been  able  to  feel  their  importance  by 
adding  their  weight  to  the  democratic  minority  —  but  even 
this  field  for  usefulness  seems  to  be  lost  by  their  alarm  at  its 
success  -  We  are  now  indeed  in  a  degraded  minority,  with 
no  hope  of  success,  but  from  silence  &  seldom  even  by  that  — 
My  veneration  for  Congress  will  not  be  increased  by  my  more 
intimate  acquaintance  with  it,  &  my  abhorrence  of  the  men  in 
power  &  their  measures  will  not  I  assure  you  be  lessened." 

There  were  but  few  standing  committees  of  the  House 
under  the  rules  then  existing,  and  not  many  places  on  them 
were  conceded  to  the  Federalist  members.  Roger  Griswold 
of  Connecticut  was  their  leader,  and  a  new  member  from  that 
State  naturally  found  himself  overshadowed.  Mr.  Baldwin 
did  not  take  a  prominent  position  on  the  floor. 

He  was  appointed  one  of  a  new  committee  of  the  House, 
created  in  December,  1803,  to  be  styled  the  Committee  of 
Accounts.  It  consisted  of  three,  and  was  to  control  the 
expenditure  of  the  contingent  fund  of  the  House.  He  was 
appointed  the  Federalist  member,  to  fill  a  vacancy.  At  the 
second  session  of  the  8th  Congress  he  was  not  re-appointed. 

On  February  10,  1804,  he  was  put  on  the  Committee  on 
Elections,  again  to  fill  a  vacancy.  In  November  of  that  year 
he  was  given  a  place  on  a  select  committee  concerning  our 
relations  with  the  Barbary  powers,  and  shortly  afterwards 
was  a  member  of  another  select  committee,  on  a  petition 
from  some  Georgetown  Presbyterians  for  a  charter  of 
incorporation. 

There  was  less  talking  at  that  time  than  now.  Fewer 
experiments  in  government  were  tried.  A  distinguished 


Term  in  Congress  333 

Senator  of  the  United  States  Senate1  was  asked  by  a  con 
stituent  on  his  return  from  a  long  session,  towards  the  close 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  what  they  had  found  to  do  for  so 
long  a  time.  "Why,  sir/'  was  the  answer,  "we  have  had 
as'  much  as  we  could  do  to  keep  from  doing." 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  seldom  absent  at  roll-call,  and  his  name 
was  almost  always  found,  on  a  vote  by  Yeas  and  Nays,  in  the 
list  of  the  minority. 

While  in  Congress  he  received  the  following  letter  from 
an  American  author  who,  most  of  any  of  them,  had  suffered 
from  the  inadequacy  of  the  protection  which  our  laws  then 
gave  them.  For  the  consideration  of  such  matters,  however, 
the  purchase  and  government  of  the  Louisiana  territory,  our 
critical  foreign  relations,  and  the  impeachment  proceedings 
against  Justice  Chase  and  Judge  Pickering  left  little  time. 
Mr.  Baldwin  did  not  propose  any  bill  for  the  purpose,  and  it 
took  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  our  copyright  law  was 
recast.  One  of  the  amendments  advocated  by  Dr.  Webster 
was  then  adopted. 

Noah  Webster  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Mr  Baldwin  - 

As  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  copyright 
law  may  come  under  Consideration,  during  the  present  Ses 
sion  of  Congress,  I  beg  leave  to  request  your  attention  to 
some  of  the  principles  of  the  present  Statute, 
i  The  requirement  of  a  printed  copy  of  the  title  page  to  be 
lodged  with  the  Clerk  of  the  District,  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  a  Register  &  Certificate  -  Since  the  new  law 
required  that  certificate  to  be  printed  on  the  back  of  the  title 
page,  it  has  become  very  inconvenient  to  procure  a  printed 
copy  first  -  It  is  now  necessary  to  get  the  title  page  set  up 
by  itself,  before  the  work  is  printed.  I  do  not  see  why  a 
manuscript  copy  lodged  with  the  Clerk  would  not  answer 

1  Stephen  M.  Mitchell,  Christian  Spectator,  VIII,  210. 


334  Term  in  Congress 

every  useful  purpose  —  &  then  it  might  be  required  that  a 
printed  copy  of  the  book  should  be  lodged  with  the  Clerk  — 
2  I  do  not  see  the  reason  why  an  interest  in  original  literary 
composition  should  stand  on  different  ground  from  all  other 
personal  property  -  There  certainly  could  anciently  be  no 
law,  &  of  course  no  common  law,  about  a  species  of  property 
which  did  not  exist  —  In  unlettered  ages,  there  was  no  such 
property,  but  when  this  species  of  property  grew  into  exist 
ence  &  importance,  it  is  clear  to  me  that  every  principle  of 
common  law  necessarily  attached  to  it  -  -  &  on  this  ground, 
I  think  the  decision  of  the  House  of  Lords  in  the  case  of 
Donaldson  v  Becket,  to  be  erroneous  —  it  is  beyond  a  ques 
tion,  in  my  mind,  that  the  judgment  of  Kings  Bench,  in  the 
case  of  Millar  &  Taylor,  was  grounded  on  sound  principles. 
But  I  will  not  here  argue  that  question  -  Men  are  strangely 
influenced  by  habits  of  thinking  -  -  &  it  is  a  common  opinion 
that  literary  composition,  a  species  of  property  more  pecul 
iarly  a  man's  own,  than  any  other,  being  the  production  of  his 
mind  or  inventive  faculties,  should  be  held  only  for  a  limited 
time  -  -  while  a  horse  or  an  acre  of  land,  which  a  fool  may 
obtain  by  muscular  exertions,  is  a  permanent  inheritable 
estate  — 

But  at  any  rate,  what  reason  can  be  assigned  for  securing 
to  a  man  a  right  for  fourteen  years,  &  if  he  should  survive 
that  period,  then  another  fourteen  years  —  but  if  he  should 
die,  that  his  heirs  should  be  deprived  of  that  property  — r-  & 
at  the  very  time,  the  property  may  be  most  wanted  for  a  fam 
ily,  it  must  become  an  object  of  universal  plunder? 

Surely,  Sir,  in  this  period  of  the  world,  such  laws  are  not 
very  honorable  -  -  &  I  cannot  but  hope,  that  you  &  all  the 
Gentlemen  of  the  Connecticut  Delegation  —  indeed  all 
parties,  must  concur  in  the  opinion  that  our  Statutes  want 
revision  -  An  attention  to  this  subject  will  Oblige  Your 
friend  &  Obed  Sevt 

N  Webster." 

When  the  proposal  to  the  States  of  the  Twelfth  Amend 
ment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  in  regard  to 


Term  in  Congress  335 

the  choice  of  President  and  Vice-President,  was  under  con 
sideration  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  sitting-  as  a  com 
mittee  of  the  whole,  Mr.  Baldwin  called  attention  to  an 
ambiguity  of  expression  in  the  resolution  as  sent  down  from 
the  Senate.  It  was  in  the  provision  that  if  no  person  had  a 
majority  of  all  the  electors  appointed,  for  the  office  of  Presi 
dent  "then  from  the  persons  having  the  highest  numbers,  not 
exceeding  three,  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for,"  the  House 
should  choose  the  President.  Did  this  mean  "from  the  per 
sons,  not  exceeding  three,  having  the  highest  numbers,  on  the 
list  of  those  voted  for,"  or  did  it  mean  "from  the  persons 
having  the  highest  numbers  not  exceeding  three  numbers"  ? 
Mr.  Baldwin,  on  December  7,  1803,  made  a  brief  and  well- 
reasoned  speech  in  support  of  a  motion  which  he  submitted 
for  the  erasure  of  the  three  words  which  raised  the  ambiguity. 
It  was  as  follows : 

"Mr.  Chairman 

I  should  not  have  risen  on  this  question,  did  I 
not  conceive  that  the  import  of  a  part  of  the  words  proposed 
to  be  stricken  out,  had  been  passed  unnoticed  by  the  Gentle 
men  who  have  preceeded  me.  —  I  refer  to  the  words  "not 
exceeding  three".  — 

For  the  purpose  to  which  I  wish  to  turn  the  attention  of 
the  Committee  to  these  words,  it  is  altogether  immaterial, 
whether  they  refer  to  Persons  or  to  Numbers.  The  same 
difficulty  will  occur  to  whichever  of  these  antecedents  they 
may  be  found  to  relate.  The  choice  must  be  made  from  per 
sons  or  from  numbers,  "not  exceeding  three" . 

This  expression  limitting  the  greater  number,  necessarily 
implies  that  a  less  number  may  be  taken.  It  is  an  expres 
sion  of  frequent  occurrence  in  our  Statutes;  persons  may  be 
fined  not  exceeding  a  certain  sum,  or  may  be  imprisoned  not 
exceeding  a  certain  number  of  years.  Whenever  the  expres 
sion  is  thus  used,  a  sum,  or  a  number  less  than  the  excess 
limited,  may  be  assumed;  and  by  the  provision  under  con 
sideration  the  choice  of  President  may  consistently,  with 


3  36  Term  in  Congress 

the  expression,  be  restricted  to  two  persons,  or  to  two  classes 
of  numbers.  This  I  am  persuaded  is  not  the  intention  of 
Congress,  but  as  the  words  are  capable  of  this  construction, 
why  shall  we  not  correct  the  expression  so  as  fairly  to  convey 
the  meaning  we  intend  ?  We  can  make  it  explicit,  by  saying, 
the  choice  shall  be  made  from  the  three  persons  having  the 
highest  numbers :  or  if  so  is  our  meaning,  from  the  persons 
having  the  three  highest  numbers. 

But  Sir  the  uncertainty  of  the  number  from  which  the 
choice  may  be  made,  is  not  in  itself  the  greatest  evil  arising 
from  the  expression.  Whenever  a  choice  of  President  shall 
be  refered  to  the  decision  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
under  this  provision  as  a  part  of  the  constitution,  tho'  the 
balloting  must  be  by  States,  yet  the  previous  question  to 
determine  how  many  persons  or  numbers  shall  be  run,  will 
be  decided  as  other  questions  especially  taken  in  this  House, 
by  Polls,  &  not  by  States.  The  consequence  is  obvious ;  the 
four  great  States,  Virginia,  Pennsylvania,  New  York  & 
Massachusetts,  are  represented  on  the  floor  of  this  House 
by  seventy  four  members,  this  Sir  is  a  majority  of  the  whole 
representation  of  the  Union;  Their  combination  may  limit 
the  number  to  two,  &  thus  exclude  the  Candidate,  who  might 
otherwise  have  obtained  the  votes  of  the  other  thirteen 
States.  — 

I  shall  make  no  remarks  upon  the  other  parts  of  the  Sen 
tence  proposed  to  be  stricken  out.  The  various  constructions 
given  to  the  words,  by  the  different  Gentlemen  who  have 
spoken  on  the  subject,  is  the  best  comment,  to  shew  the  impro 
priety  of  the  expression. 

The  language  of  the  Constitution,  above  all  instruments, 
ought  to  be  plain,  certain  &  incapable  of  misconstruction. 
The  language  of  the  resolution  under  consideration  is  not 
so;  the  advocates  of  it  do  not  agree  in  its  meaning.  I  hope 
Sir  we  shall  pause,  &  before  we  adopt  the  resolution,  correct 
the  expressions  capable  of  such  mischief,  &  so  alter  the  lan 
guage,  that  the  meaning  cannot  be  misunderstood.  -  I 
therefore  move  you  to  insert  three  before  Highest  &  to  strike 
out  —  "not  exceeding  three." 


Term  in  Congress  337 

The  motion  was  not  passed,  and  so  the  Twelfth  Amend 
ment  perpetuated  an  ambiguity,  which  might  easily  have  been 
avoided. 

It  must  now  be  regarded  as  established  that  during  the 
winter  of  1803-4  there  was  serious  talk  among  some  of  the 
New  England  Federalists  then  prominent  in  public  life  over 
the  expediency  of  planning  a  secession  from  the  Union  of 
New  England  and  perhaps  of  New  York.  Senators  Timothy 
Pickering  of  Massachusetts  and  Uriah  Tracy  of  Connecticut 
were  among  those  who  discussed  the  matter,  and  there  can 
be  little  doubt  that,  if  Hamilton  had  favored  it,  they  would 
have  stood  ready  to  promote  a  movement  to  establish  a 
separate  Northern  Confederacy. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  not  taken  into  their  confidence  with 
respect  to  their  scheme.2  Only  a  few  of  the  leading  Fed 
eralists  were  consulted,  and  none  who  were  not  thought  to 
have  leanings  in  that  direction. 

Not  long  after  John  Quincy  Adams,  in  1828,  had  made 
public  his  charge  that  a  project  of  this  nature  had  been  con 
sidered  by  some  of  the  Federalists  a  quarter  of  a  century 
before,  and  Uriah  Tracy  of  Connecticut,  long  since  dead, 
had  been  named  as  one  of  those  active  in  its  favor,  Judge 
James  Gould,  his  son-in-law,  wrote  to  the  Federalist  sur 
vivors  of  the  Connecticut  members  of  Congress  in  1803, 
asking  each  if  at  that  time  Senator  Tracy  or  anybody  else 
had  ever  spoken  to  him  of  the  existence  of  any  such  combina 
tion  or  "project"  as  Mr.  Adams  described.3 

2  See  Lodge,  Life  and  Letters  of  George  Cabot,  338-344,  437,  446, 
453;    Morrison,  Life  of  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  I,  165-216;    New  Eng 
land  Secessionists,  in  New  Englander  for  March,  1878,  145 ;   Life  of 
Wm.  Plumer,  298. 

3  Henry  Adams,  Documents  relating  to  New  England  Federalism, 
99-103. 


338  Term  in  Congress 

Senator  Hillhouse  replied  that  he  had  never  heard  of  "any 
combination  or  plot"  among  the  Federal  members  of  Con 
gress  to  dissolve  the  Union  of  these  States,  or  to  form  a 
Northern  or  Eastern  confederacy,  and  did  not  believe  that 
"any  such  combination  or  plot  ever  existed." 

It  will  be  observed  that  for  the  word  "project"  used  by 
Judge  Gould,  Mr.  Hillhouse  substituted  "plot,"  and  twice 
repeats  this  term.  A  plot  is  something  more  definite  and 
pronounced  than  a  project.  It  is  a  conspiracy  to  achieve  a 
project. 

Mr.  Baldwin  responded  to  Judge  Gould's  letter  as  follows : 

"  New  Haven,  April  7,  1829. 

My  Dear  Sir,  -  I  was  a  member  of  Congress  in  the  winter 
of  1803-4,  and  resided  at  Washington  until  the  close  of  that 
session,  in  a  family  of,  I  think,  fifteen  members  of  Congress, 
all  from  New  England,  and  all,  in  the  party  designations  of 
that  day,  Federalists.  Mr.  Plumer  was  of  our  family;  Mr. 
Tracy  was  not,  but  an  intimacy  had  subsisted  between  him 
and  myself  from  early  life.  While  at  Washington,  we  saw 
each  other  frequently,  -  -  I  may  say,  daily,  —  and  were  in 
habits  of  familiar  and  confidential  communications  on  politi 
cal  subjects,  both  in  private  intercourse  and  in  our  social 
circles.  I  am  confident  that  Mr.  Tracy  did  not,  during  that 
period  or  any  time,  confer  with  me  upon  or  disclose  any  such 
combination  or  project  as  that  referred  to  by  Mr.  Adams; 
nor  did  I  ever  hear  from  him,  or  any  other  Federalist,  dur 
ing  that  session  or  at  any  other  time,  the  suggestion  of  a 
plan  to  dissolve  the  Union,  or  to  form  a  Northern  or  Eastern 
confederation,  or  any  intimation  of  a  wish  that  such  an  event 
might  take  place;  I  never  heard  that  a  meeting  for  that 
object  was  proposed  to  be  held  at  Boston  in  the  autumn 
of  1804,  until  the  publication  of  Mr.  Plumer's  letter. 

I  never  claimed  the  honor  of  being  a  leader  of  the  Federal 
party;  but  I  never  suspected  there  was  a  want  of  confidence 
in  me,  or  that  any  important  party  secrets  were  designedly 
withheld  from  me.  If  such  a  project  had  ever  been  communi- 


Term  in  Congress  339 

cated  to  me,  I  think  I  should  not  have  disregarded  or  failed 
to  remember  it ;  because  I  know,  and  have  ever  felt  deeply, 
the  importance  of  preserving  our  Federal  Union. 

I  assure  you  I  did  not  then,  from  any  source,  know,  nor 
have  I  at  any  time  since  known,  nor  have  I  now  any  reason 
to  believe  or  suspect,  that  such  a  project  ever  existed. 
I  am,  with  esteem,  Your  friend, 

S.  Baldwin. 
Hon.  James  Gould." 

This  full  and  explicit  response  must  be  accepted  as  show 
ing  that  the  writer  was  no  party  either  to  a  project  or  a  plot 
to  dismember  the  Union.  Probably  General  Tracy  knew  him 
to  be  so  staunch  a  supporter  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  that  it  would  have  been  both  useless  and  dangerous  to 
confer  with  him  on  the  subject  of  splitting  the  country  in  two. 

In  January,  1805,  Stephen  Austin  of  New  Haven  wrote 
him  that  he  wished  to  sue  in  South  Carolina  on  the  official 
bond  of  a  deceased  Marshal  of  that  District,  and  could  find 
no  statute  to  authorize  it.  Such  bonds  were  always  in  form 
made  out  to  the  United  States,  but  were  really  given  for  the 
benefit  of  anyone  as  to  whom  the  Marshal  had  been  guilty 
of  a  breach  of  duty.  Mr.  Baldwin  replied  on  February  18, 
that  he  should  do  what  he  could  to  obtain  the  necessary  legis 
lation,  but  feared  it  was  too  late  to  hope  for  any  action  before 
the  next  Congress.  On  February  20,  after  talking  the 
matter  over  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Albert 
Gallatin,  he  moved,  in  the  House,  that  a  select  committee  be 
raised  to  consider  it.  The  motion  was  carried,  and  a  com 
mittee  of  three  appointed,  of  which  he  was  chairman.  Five 
days  later  they  reported,  through  him,  a  bill  for  an  Act 
which  he  had  prepared  to  remedy  the  defect.  It  was  a  good 
piece  of  legislation;  but  the  report  came  too  near  the  end 
of  the  session  to  give  much  hope  of  its  adoption.  It  was 


34°  Term  in  Congress 

referred  to  the  committee  of  the  whole  and  made  an  order 
of  the  day;  but  when  the  day  came  the  bill  was  crowded 
aside  by  measures  of  more  importance,  and  never  got  back 
to  the  House  for  action.  The  draft  of  this  statute  was  pre 
served  among  his  papers.  It  is  written  in  ink,  but  there  are 
numerous  alterations  in  pencil.  In  this  form  Mr.  Baldwin 
indorsed  it  as  a  "precious  memorandum  of  Th.  Jefferson/' 
doubtless  referring  to  the  pencilled  part.  This  was  probably 
the  result  of  a  conference  with  the  President,  either  by  Mr. 
Gallatin  or  by  Mr.  Baldwin. 

In  1806,  a  bill  closely  founded  on  Mr.  Baldwin's  draft  was 
enacted.  President  Jefferson's  main  suggestions  were  the 
use  of  untechnical  terms,  and  the  investment  of  the  District 
Judge,  individually,  with  power  to  allow  the  real  party  in 
interest  to  sue  on  such  a  bond,  whereas  the  original  draft 
required  the  order  to  be  applied  for  in  open  court.  The 
final  Act4  was  better  still,  and  authorized  suit  by  the  real 
party  interested,  without  any  special  permission. 

On  November  12,  1804,  he  writes  to  his  wife,  shortly  after 
the  opening  of  the  second  session  of  the  eighth  Congress : 

"One  week  is  passed  since  Congress  convened  &  very  little 
business  has  been  done,  and  less  will  probably  be  done  this 
week  as  the  annual  Races  commence  tomorrow,  &  must  & 
will  be  attended  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  turf."      .... 
"It  is  really  a  consolation  that  this  is  the  last  of  my  tour  of 
duty  —  I  hope  during  another  winter  I  may  be  permitted  to 
enjoy  more  pleasure  at  home,  --but  whether  here  or  at  home 
I  am  with  sincere  affection 
Your 

Simeon  Baldwin." 

That  the  "gentlemen  of  the  turf"  were  not  the  only  ones 
who  went  out  to  the  races,  appears  from  this  letter  to  his 
son,  Roger  Sherman  Baldwin,  a  boy  of  eleven : 

4  Approved  April  10,  1806;  U.  S.  Stat.  at  Large,  IV,  Chap.  21. 


Term  in  Congress  34 l 

"Washington  Novr  1 5th  -  -  1804 
My  dear  Son 

I  give  you  the  credit  .of  the  first  Letter  I  have 
received  from  home.  I  have  just  now  received  it,  &  though 
I  have  already  written  to  you,  I  cheerfully  do  it  again  because 
I  believe  it  will  gratify  you  — 

We  have  been  most  of  this  week  employed  in  visiting  the 
race  ground  -  -  which  here  opens  a  scene  of  amusement  for 
three  or  four  days  for  all  sorts  of  people,  as  a  general  train 
ing  does  in  Connecticut  —  and  people  here  are  so  very  fond 
of  them  that  little  other  business  can  be  done  while  they 
continue  —  As  Congress  adjourned  each  day  on  that  account 
earlier  than  usual,  I  visited  the  field  twice  —  as  I  had  never 
before  seen  any  thing  of  the  kind.  The  ground  is  marked 
off  in  a  circle,  just  one  mile  round  it  --  on  an  extensive  plain 
-  three  or  four  miles  from  the  Capitol  &  without  the  Limits 
of  the  City  -  Huts  are  here  erected  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  people  who  assemble,  with  all  sorts  of  refreshments; 
on  the  top  of  these  huts  people  stand  to  see  the  races  -  Vast 
sums  are  thus  bet  on  the  different  Horses  who  are  entered 
to  run  —  At  the  time  appointed,  on  a  signal  given,  the  Horses 
start;  in  one  or  two  of  the  races  5  Horses  started  together 
&  in  the  great  races  they  run  4  times  round  the  circle  making 
4  miles  at  a  heat,  as  they  term  it ;  they  then  rest  their  Horses 
about  20  minutes  &  run  round  4  times  more  -  if  the  same 
Horse  comes  out  first  the  Second  Heat,  the  race  is  over  if 
not,  they  run  a  third  &  some  times  the  fourth  heat  -  the 
four  mile  heat  is  never  run  except  by  old  Horses  -  Young 
Horses  run  sometimes  but  once  &  seldom  more  than  twice 
round  the  circle  - 

On  the  whole  it  appeared  to  me  to  be  a  silly  amusement,  for 
such  a  concourse  of  people  assembled  from  all  parts  of  Vir 
ginia  &  Maryland  -  The  only  apology  for  it  to  induce  the 
rich  people  to  improve  the  breed  of  horses  —  but  I  think 
it  has  but  little  effect  on  those  most  used  -  -  for  the  Horses 
mostly  used  here  are  much  inferior  to  those  we  have  about 
New  Haven,  &  a  race-breed  are  of  little  use  for  the  Chaise 
or  Team,  &  are  often  unmanageable  to  ride.  —  On  the  whole 
I  think  the  Connecticut  amusements,  such  as  Commencements, 


342  Term  in  Congress 

quarter  days  —  training  &  the  like,  are  more  rational  & 
more  useful  —    I  have  written  more  than  I  intended.     Make 
my  Love  to  the  family  - 
from 

your  Affec1  father 

Simeon  Baldwin/' 

On  November  19,  1804,  he  writes  to  David  Daggett: 

"I  have  recd  yours  of  the  15*.  I  thank  you  for  it  -  If 
my  friends  knew  the  pleasure  it  gives  me  -  -  while  in  the 
Shrub  plains  of  the  City  of  Washington  to  hear  from  those 
who  live  in  the  world  they  would  write  more  frequently.  - 

You  are  not  alone  in  your  sentiment  respecting  the  Mes 
sage  -  It  is  not  only  feeble  -  -  but  monstrously  inaccurate 
even  in  grammar,  in  the  construction  of  sentences  &  in  evry 
arrangement  destructive  of  perspicuity.  —  The  Intelligencer, 
fearing  the  rough  attacks  of  federal  prints,  —  has  already  as 
you  have  doubtless  seen  extended  its  columns  for  its  support 

-  the  attention  of  the  gaping  Democrats  gazing  at  the 
wonders  of  Louisiana  is  turned  from  the  splendour  of  the 
mountain  of  salt  to  streams  of  Lead  flowing  from  Austins 


mines." 


On  December  15,  1804,  he  writes  to  his  wife: 

"I  confess  I  have  often  wondered  that  many  who  are 
appointed  to  spend  their  time  here  are  so  solicitous  for  the 
place.  I  can  account  for  it  from  ambition  in  a  few  of  the 
leaders  who  can  offset  the  anticipation  of  future  pleasures 
against  the  privation  of  present  ones.  They  probably  dis 
regard  temporary  inconveniences  in  the  hope  of  more  lively 
enjoyment  for  themselves  &  families  in  the  high  spheres  to 
which  they  aim  —  Few  indeed  ought  to  derive  consolation 
from  such  reflections  -  -  fewer  still  will  attain  the  object  to 
which  their  ambition  impels  them  &  none  I  suspect  will  find 
the  accomplishment  of  their  views  productive  of  what  they 
in  their  pursuit  expect.  I  have  not  the  vanity  to  think 
myself  calculated  for  such  a  race  —  I  have,  I  confess,  had 


Term  in  Congress  343 

a  sort  of  gratification  by  being  here  &  seeing  what  others 
pursue  —  how  they  pursue  —  &  why  they  miss  it.  —  I  hope 
therefore  to  be  more  contented  with  the  steady  habits  of 
home  &  of  Connecticut;  believing  that  a  Connecticut  man, 
unless  inordinate  in  his  ambition,  need  not  come  to  Washing 
ton  in  search  after  Happiness." 

On  December  19  he  writes  her  in  the  same  vein : 

"That  portion  of  happiness  which  accompanies  me  at 
Washington  will  never,  I  assure  you,  wean  me  from  the  more 
substantial  joys  of  domestic  life.  ...  It  was  a  wretched 
business  ever  to  remove  the  Seat  of  Government  to  this  place. 
It  is  all  a  forced  business,  and  will  be  for  years  to  come.  .  .  . 
It  is  now  settled  wholly  by  officers  of  Gov1,  or  adventurers 
who  seek  their  living  from  those  who  are  connected  with 
Gov*.  The  Houses  have  been  erected  on  speculation,  &  I 
presume  that  not  half  of  those  which  have  been  erected  are 
inhabited." 

Three  days  later  he  writes  her  again : 

"Absence  increases  my  wish  to  return  —  in  the  dissipation 
of  the  place  I  have  no  share  &  the  bustle  of  public  Life  I  am 
confident  will  never  please  me.  - 

My  life  here  is  more  recluse  than  you  probably  conceive  — 
the  men  of  the  different  parties  do  not  associate  intimately  — 
Federalists  live  mostly  by  themselves,  there  are  about  50 
in  both  Houses,  of  these  we  have  13  at  our  own  Table  — • 
But  we  make  ourselves  some  sport  at  the  expence  of  the 
blunders  as  we  conceive  them,  of  the  great  folks  in  power. 
Mr  Merry,  the  minister  from  Great  Britain  arrived  here  with 
his  Lady  since  the  meeting  of  Congress  —  He  is  a  man 
accustomed  to  the  forms  &  ceremonies  of  the  British  Court, 
&  knowing  the  particular  attention  paid  to  Mr  King  our  min 
ister  &  to  his  Lady  while  in  England  —  he  expected  a  return 
of  reciprocal  attention  here.  —  Soon  after  his  first  audience 
with  the  President  —  Mr  &  Mrs  Merry  were  invited  to  a 
dinner  of  ceremony  at  the  Presidents  —  It  was  important 
therefore  on  this  occasion  to  settle  the  relative  rank  of  the 


344  Term  in  Congress 

British  minister  &  our  heads  of  department,  &  after  much 
inquiry,  &  great  deliberation  among  the  Gentn  &  Ladies  of 
the  Court,  the  result  was  the  heads  of  Department  were  to 
take  the  rank  -  -  of  course  Mrs  Maddison  was  led  to  the  din 
ner  Table  by  the  President  &  some  of  the  other  Ladies  of  the 
Court  according  to  the  supposed  rank  of  their  Husbands 
before  M18  Merry  -  at  another  Dinner  soon  after  at  Mr 
Maddison's  the  same  order  was  observed;  the  next  dinner 
of  the  kind  she  refused  to  attend  -  -  the  reason  was  soon 
known,  &  the  thing  soon  became  the  topic  of  conversation, 
&  it  being  known  that  the  former  Administration  &  partic 
ularly  Gen1  Washington,  who  had  no  talent  at  blundering 
on  such  occasions,  always  considered  them  as  strangers  & 
entitled  to  a  preference  &  who  always  led  the  Lady  of  the 
British  minister  himself  to  the  Table,  the  new  pretentious  are 
illy  received  by  the  foreign  minister  &  not  generally  well 
approved  by  the  Connoissieurs  among  the  well  bred  Demo 
crats  —  and  it  is  said  the  Philosopher  even  wishes  it  had  been 
ordered  otherwise.  - 

On  January  5,  1804,  he  writes  to  her  thus: 

"I  shall  this  day  dine  for  the  first  time  with  Th.  Jefferson 
-  he  is  in  the  habit  of  separating  the  wheat  from  the  chaff  - 
&  invites  the  federal  members  by  themselves  -  I  arrived 
here  after  the  first  round  -  -  the  Second  federal  Invitations 
commence  this  day  -  -  tho  we  have  no  great  complacency  in 
the  man  -  -  we  feel  it  a  kind  of  official  Duty,  to  respect  the 
office,  &  that  it  is  proper  to  keep  a  ceremony  which  once  was 
useful  &  we  hope  may  be  again.  — 

A  later  invitation,  for  December  13,  1804,  has  been  pre 
served,  and  reads  as  follows : 

"Th :  Jefferson  requests  the  favour  of  Mr.  Baldwin 
to  dine  with  him  on  thursday  13th  — 
at  half  after  three,  or  at  whatever  later  hour  the  house 
may  rise. 

The  favour  of  an  answer  is  asked." 


Term  in  Congress  345 

On  January  12,  he  writes  his  wife  again: 

"Our  landlord  gives  us  an  excellent  Table,  better  I  believe 
than  is  for  our  health  considering  our  sedentary  life  -  we 
breakfast  at  9  —  dine  at  3  or  sometimes  4  &  sup  at  8  -  we 
have  few  amusements  except  those  within  our  own  circle  & 
a  few  federal  friends  in  the  Neighborhood  -  -  our  mess; 
none  of  them  join  the  dissipated  circles  of  the  City  indeed 
most  of  the  members  who  are  fond  of  those  pleasures,  if  they 
are  such,  reside  in  Georgetown  2  or  3  miles  from  us.  — 

Young  Bonaparte  &  his  wife  were  here  last  week  I  did 
not  have  an  opportunity  to  inspect  her  charms  but  her  dress 
at  a  Ball  which  she  attended  has  been  the  general  topic  of 
conversation  in  all  circles  -  Having  married  a  Parissian 
she  assumed  the  mode  of  dress  in  which  it  is  said  the  Ladies 
of  Paris  are  cloathed  --if  that  may  be  called  cloathing  which 
leaves  half  of  the  body  naked  &  the  shape  of  the  rest  perfectly 
visible  -  Several  of  the  Gentn  who  saw  her  say  they  could 
put  all  the  cloaths  she  had  on  in  their  vest  pockett  -  -  &  it  is 
said  she  did  not  appear  at  all  abashed  when  the  inquisitive 
Eyes  of  the  young  Galants  led  them  to  chat  with  her  tete  a 
tete.  -  Tho'  her  taste  &  appearance  was  condemned  by  those 
who  saw  her,  yet  such  fashions  are  astonishingly  bewitching 
&  will  gradually  progress,  &  we  may  well  reflect  on  what 
we  shall  be  when  fashion  shall  remove  all  barriers  from  the 
chastity  of  women. "5 

He  writes  to  his  wife  on  February  2,  1804: 

"I  am  more  and  more  satisfied  with  the  mediocrity  of  the 
Connecticut  stile  of  living  —  I  believe  it  has  as  many  of  the 
real  pleasures  &  less  of  the  alloy  which  so  often  attends 
the  dissipation  of  the  South. 

Mr  R—  -  who  resided  last  Summer  in  Wethersfield  finds 
added  to  all  his  political  rebuffs,  a  domestic  source  of  more 
poignant  woe.  -  It  seems  his  wife  became  attached  to  a 
Docr  S—  -  of  Newport  while  they  resided  there,  that  this 

5  A  cut  of  one  of  Mrs.  Bonaparte's  gowns  is  given  in  Sterling,  A 
Painter  of  Dreams,  172. 


346  Term  in  Congress 

connexion  was  carried  to  too  great  familiarity  —  that  it  was 
then  noticed  by  the  friends  of  Mr  R.  &  was  by  one  of  them 
communicated  to  him ;  that  he  had  then  too  much  confidence 
in  her  Honor  to  believe  the  Report  -  The  Docr  has  since 
been  in  England  &  lately  returned  by  the  way  of  Charleston 
&  hearing  Mr  R  was  from  home,  he  went  to  his  plantation  & 
put  up  -  -  a  friend  of  Mr  R.  informed  him  what  was  doing 

at  home  —    he  returned  —    a  Duel  succeeded,  &  R -  & 

his  wife  have  separated  -  Such  are  the  cursed  fruits  of 
unlawful  amours  —  : 

On  February  12,  1804,  Mr.  Baldwin  jots  down  the  follow 
ing  account  of  a  recent  "affair  of  honor"  between  John 
Randolph  of  Roanoke  and  his  associate  in  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Willis  Alston,  Jr. : 

"A  Symptom,  Feby  12th  1804. 

Mr  Pepin  was  this  Evening  at  Coyles  &  finding  we  had 
heard  the  substance  of  a  controversy  between  John  Randolph 
&  Wyllys  Alston  two  members  of  Congress,  related  the  trans 
action  as  follows.  — 

That  on  Saturday  the  IIth  he  was  at  dinner  with  about  20 
others  at  Mra  Dashields  where  those  Genn  boarded  -  -  that 
while  at  the  Table  Mr  A.  observed  that  the  long  discussion  of 
the  Georgia  Claims  had  done  no  good,  that  he  believed  the 
minority  was  lessened  by  it,  &  that  he  knew  of  some  who 
would  vote  otherwise  on  the  Bill  —  R.  replied  that  he  was 
confident  it  had  an  effect  &  that  members  had  expressed 
themselves  convinced  by  the  arguments.  A.  observed  that 
the  subject  was  not  new  to  the  House;  it  had  been  debated 
at  the  last  Session  -  R.  said  it  was  not  debated  last  Ses 
sion.  A.  replied  that  it  had.  R.  with  a  very  serious  air 
told  A.  that  when  he  should  contradict  him  again  he  should 
expect  him  to  do  it  in  more  decent  Language.  A.  said  he 
was  confident  he  was  right  &  that  his  assertion  was  as  good 
as  R's  —  R.  replied  that  he  did  not  consider  his  word  as  a 
mere  balance  for  Mr.  A's  Some  epithets  were  added  to 
enforce  the  assertions  of  each  —  Upon  this  the  Ladies  at 


Term  in  Congress  347 

the  table  retired  —  R.  went  out  &  apologized  to  them  for  the 
disturbance  &  soon  after  returned  into  the  dining  room.  A. 
had  by  this  time  removed  to  the  fire  —  R.  went  to  the  table 
took  a  glass  of  wine  &  deliberately  went  up  to  A  and  threw 
it  into  his  face  —  &  while  A.  was  clearing  his  Eyes  he  broke 
the  Glass  across  his  face  -  This  produced  more  words  and 
some  battle  -  -  R  then  threw  a  bottle  of  wine  at  A.  which 
hit  him  on  his  body,  the  company  then  interfered  &  prevented 
a  ratification  -  R  then  observed  to  the  Company,  that  this 
was  one  of  the  disagreeable  occurrences  which  would  now  & 
then  hapen  in  social  intercourse,  but  he  hoped  he  had  acquited 
himself  with  propriety,  that  the  treatment  he  had  given  was 
such  as  the  puppy  deserved  he  then  left  the  room  with  slam 
observing  he  could  be  found  at  his  chamber.  —  Fame  with 
her  hundred  tongues  was  as  busy  as  a  Bee,  in  spight  of  all 
effort,  till  the  facts  were  fully  known  —  It  was  supposed  the 
Southern  Specific  must  inevitably  be  applied  to  the  wound  & 
that  nothing  would  heal  the  wound  but  a  leaden  pill  -  This 
morning  R.  was  arrested  by  warrant  from  Judge  Kilty  & 
recognized  to  keep  the  peace  Alston  was  not  found  -  -  & 
neither  of  them  have  this  day  appeared  in  the  House  —  The 
men  of  the  Pistol  say  that  so  gross  and  deliberate  an  abuse 
cannot  be  pocketed  or  compromised  —  that  A.  must  fight  — 
or  leave  the  place  in  disgrace  -  thus  the  thing  now  rests 
&  if  they  must  fight  I  shall  be  tempted  to  sing  in  the  language 
of  the  sketches  of  the  times 

"So  have  I  seen  with  fiery  rage" 
A  Hawk  &  Snake  in  fight  engage" 
For  such  a  combat  nothing  loath" 
But  wished  the  Devil  had  them  both" 

Washington,  at  this  period,  was  a  poor  place  to  shop  in. 
Mr.  Baldwin  writes  to  his  wife  on  New  Year's  Day: 

"Tell  Simeon  I  am  preparing  him  a  Letter  in  which  I  intend 
to  enclose  him  a  picture  Book  for  a  New  Years  gift,  but  have 
not  as  yet  been  able  to  find  such  a  thing  in  the  Capital  of  the 
United  States." 


348  Term  in  Congress 

On  January  5,  1805,  he  describes  the  opening  scene  of  the 
trial  of  Justice  Chase,  on  his  impeachment,  before  the  Senate. 

"The  Senate  chamber  was  fitted  up  in  a  very  handsome 
manner  for  a  court  room,  while  the  Senate  held  their  delib 
erations  for  a  week  in  a  Com*  room.  -  New  seats  or  boxes 
were  erected  on  the  right  &  left  of  the  Presidents  Chair  cov 
ered  all  over  with  crimson  Cloth  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  Senate  as  a  Court.  The  frame  of  New  Gallery  was 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Ladies  in  front  of  the 
permanent  Gallery  —  but  this  was  not  finished  &  the  frame 
was  taken  down  -  The  Court  room  being  thus  prepared  a 
Chair  was  provided  by  the  Door  keeper  for  the  accommoda 
tion  of  the  accused  in  the  area  assigned  for  him  -  -  this  the 
V.  P.  ordered  to  be  removed  -  The  Judge  being  called 
appeared,  &  on  ace1  of  his  years  &  his  infirmities  Solicited  the 
indulgence  of  a  chair  while  he  should  prepare  himself  to 
address  the  Court.  This  indulgence  was  granted/' 

The  next  day  he  writes  of  it  again  to  his  wife : 

"I  enclose  to  you  the  Washington  Federalist  because  it 
contains  the  manly  address  of  Judge  Chase  to  the  Senate  on 
his  arraignment,  his  appearance  was  firm,  venerable  and 
Dignified  &  excited  you  may  well  suppose  very  lively  Sensa 
tions  in  the  breasts  of  those  who  were  friendly  to  the  men  & 
measures  of  former  times  -  One  expression  only  I  wish 
he  had  omitted  or  amended,  that  in  which  he  describes  his 
accusers  as  puling  in  their  nurses  arms  while  he  was  exerting 
his  tallents  to  establish  the  Liberty  &  Independence  of  his 
Country.  It  is  a  fact  that  all  the  managers  are  young  men, 
not  one  of  them  was  grown  up  &  some  of  them  I  presume 
were  litterally  in  their  nurses  arms  at  the  Com1  of  our  Revo 
lution  —  but  the  expression  is  rather  hacknied  &  is  calculated 
to  irritate  without  gaining  any  valuable  object.  - 

The  trial  is  now  put  off  to  the  4th  of  Feby  when  I  think  it 
probable  he  will  be  sacrificed." 

On  February  10  he  gives  her  this  account  of  its  progress: 


Term  in  Congress  349 

"In  addition  to  the  usual  pressure  of  business  at  the  close 
of  the  Session  -  -  we  are  embarked  on  another  of  W  Jef- 
fersons  tempestuous  seas  of  Liberty,  we  are  in  the  midst  of 
the  trial  of  Judge  Chase  -  He  appeared  before  the  Senate 
last  Monday  &  filed  his  answer  to  the  impeachment  -  -  the 
reading  of  which  consumed  nearly  four  Hours,  it  was  a 
masterly  performance,  &  was  read  in  a  very  impressive  man 
ner  by  Mr  Harper  The  audience  was  very  numerous  &  great 
many  strangers  both  Ladies  &  Gentn  from  remote  places  were 
present  -  -  on  Thursday  the  House  gave  their  reply  to  the 
answer,  &  on  Fryday  the  Court  opened  again,  but  as  the  man 
agers  were  not  ready  to  proceed  they  were  indulged  till  the 
next  day.  on  Saturday  (yesterday)  the  Court  was  again 
opened :  the  crowd  was  as  great  as  on  the  first  Day  -  Mr 
Randolph  on  the  part  of  the  managers  addressed  the  Court 
in  a  speech  of  about  one  hour,  but  it  is  generally  conceded  not 
much  to  his  Honor  or  that  of  the  House  —  he  exhibited 
much  of  the  bitterness  &  abuse  of  the  Judge,  from  which  the 
prosecution  originated  —  every  thing  respecting  the  impeach 
ment  has  been  hitherto  marked  with  the  spirit  of  party  &  I 
fear  the  same  Spirit  will  attend  it  to  the  end;  if  so  there  is 
little  prospect  of  his  escape,  the  Court  consists  of  34  mem 
bers  ;  all  are  present  25  are  democrats  &  9  federalists,  2/3 
are  nesessary  for  conviction  say  23  -  -  so  that  his  only  hope 
is  that  out  of  the  25  —  3  may  vote  in  his  favor  -  He  is 
assisted  by  very  able  Counsel,  far  superior  to  our  managers 
-  we  have  as  yet  heard  but  2  Witnesses  out  of  about  70  — 
&  have  consumed  one  week ;  the  trial  will  probably  last  most 
of  the  Session." 

On  February  15,  1804,  he  writes  of  John  Randolph,  the 
principal  manager  of  the  impeachment  proceedings,  that  he 

"has  little  or  no  beard  -  -  looks  very  young  &  has  a  voice  as 
shrill  as  a  boy  of  12  years  old  --  But  he  uses  good  Language, 
&  has  a  handsome  flow  of  expression  &  is  certainly  a  man 
of  a  good  deal  of  information  he  is  a  thorough  going  Demo 
crat,  but  despising  the  feebleness  of  his  partisans,  he  attempts 


350  Term  in  Congress 

to  manage  them  with  so  much  aristocratic  hauteur,  that  they 
sometimes  grow  unmanageable  &  rebel,  but  they  have  nobody 
else  who  really  possess  the  talents  requisite  for  a  leader." 

The  story  of  the  trial  is  continued  in  a  letter  to  his  wife  on 
February  16. 

"The  trial  of  Judge  Chase  which  is  so  much  the  topic  of 
the  day  here,  that  I  must  trouble  you  with  it,  still  goes  on  - 
both  Houses  still  continue  to  attend  4  or  5  Hours  each  day, 
all  other  business  of  course  is  very  much  interrupted  and 
much  Legislative  business  will  be  left  unfinished  The 
witnesses  on  the  part  of  the  prosecution  are  through:  two 
days  have  been  spent  in  examining  those  on  the  part  of  the 
Judge,  and  I  really  think  he  has  acquitted  himself  of  every 
thing  which  looks  like  a  criminal  intent.  Indeed  his  friends 
think  &  some  of  his  political  opponents  have  expressed  the 
Same  Idea  that  his  character  has  grown  brighter  by  the 
scrutiny,  both  as  a  correct  Lawyer  &  an  humane  Judge; 
every  body  knows  that  his  manners  are  not  pleasing,  but  I 
believe  that  as  much,  if  not  more,  might  have  been  proved 
against  him  respecting  the  impropriety  of  his  conduct  when 
he  was  on  the  circuit  in  New  England,  as  has  been  proved  on 
this  trial  -  I  grow  more  doubtful  whether  it  will  be  pos 
sible  to  condemn  him  -  -  in  quiet  times,  I  am  sure  they  would 
not  -  -  &  if  they  do,  Posterity  will  wonder  how  &  why  they 
did  it." 

On  March  2,  1805,  he  writes  her  of  the  close  of  the  trial, 
before  a  "vast  concourse  of  spectators,"  giving  the  votes  of 
the  Senators  in  detail,  and  closing  thus : 

"I  have  written  you  thus  much  on  this  subject  because  it 
is  the  topic  of  the  day,  &  we  are  not  a  little  elated  at  the  issue 
of  the  trial  —  Wives  who  have  husbands  embarked  on  the 
Jeffersonian  Sea  of  Liberty  must  expect  (to)  hear  something 
of  storms  hurricanes  &  turmoils." 


Term  in  Congress  3  5 T 

On  February  2,  1805,  Dr.  Noah  Webster  writes  him  from 
New  Haven : 

"We  shall  expect  a  great  budget  of  anecdotes  on  your 
return  —  I  suppose  you  will  remain  to  see  the  coronation 
oath  administered  &  hear  a  speech  from  the  new  king  -  Are 
you  doing  any  thing  in  the  Gun-boat  business  ?  Our  national 
character  runs  so  high  in  the  Mediteranean  since  our  losses 
&  de-feats  &  explosions  of  gun-powder,  that  I  think  the 
inauguration  speech  will  give  a  few  extracts  from  English 
Admirals  letters  &  from  the  Pope's.  I  suppose  you  will 
appropriate  a  million  or  two  more  to  pay  the  expenses  of 
obtaining  more  Navy-fame  in  the  same  quarter.  How  much 
more  glorious  it  is,  as  well  as  more  humane,  to  expend  money 
for  powder  &  ball  to  batter  Tripoli,  &  blow  up  gun  boats, 
than  to  redeem  a  few  hundred  of  our  brave  unfortunate 
country  men,  who  are  suffering  the  pain  &  mortification  of 
slavery  &  chains !  —  I  know  how  much  you  &  our  friends 
in  Congress  must  feel  the  degraded  state  of  our  national 
Character  —  But  I  know  of  no  consolations  but  to  eat  & 
drink  &  forget." 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  unwilling  to  serve  a  second  term  in 
Congress.  He  preferred  the  bar  for  his  occupation  and  home 
for  his  pleasures. 

His  crayon  portrait  by  St.  Memin,  taken  at  this  time,6 
shows  that  he  was  a  handsome  man  whom  the  dress  of  the 
day  well  became.  He  wore  his  hair  at  the  back  of  the  head 
in  a  queue  until  high  coat  collars  became  the  rule.  This 
made  the  "pig-tail"  stick  out  almost  horizontally,  and  he 
preferred  to  abandon  it  and  retain  the  low  collar.  His 
wardrobe  at  the  time  is  indicated  by  the  following  list,  which 
he  made  of  the  articles  which  he  carried  home  in  his  trunk 
from  Washington  in  March,  1805  : 

8  Now  in  possession  of  Simeon  E.  Baldwin. 


3  5  2  Term  in  Congress 

"8  shirts  i  do  Silk  do 

8  Cravats  i  do  Striped  Velvet 

2  Mix  Wool  Hose  i  do  Swansdown 

2  White  do  i  pr  Cal.  Breeches 

i  mixed  Worsted  i  pr  Velveret  Pantaloons 

i   Black       do  i   Surtout  mixed 

1  White      do  i   Drab  Great  Coat 

2  White  silk  do  i  blue  Cloak 
2  Black  i  White  vest 

i   Mixed  3  flannel  drawers  &  Vests 

1  Cotton  5  Silk  Pock  Hds 

2  blk  Coats  2  pr  Boots 

i  do  Cas.  Vest  i  pr  Shoes     i  pr  Slippers  - 

Rev.  Justus  Mitchell  (Yale,  Class  of  1776)  of  New 
Canaan,  writes  him  on  February  18,  1805,  in  respect  to  his 
approaching  retirement  to  private  life: 

"I  perceive  your  state  of  bondage,  &  hard  service,  is  draw 
ing  to  a  close.  This  may  be  beneficial  to  you,  but  injurious 
to  the  country.  Old  soldiers  are  always  the  best  to  encounter 
danger,  and  make  resistance  to  an  enemy.  This  perhaps  may 
well  apply  to  your  situation.  It  is  trying  to  me  to  have  able 
men,  who  have  become  acquainted  with  the  business  in  Con 
gress,  leave  their  seats  to  be  filled  by  new  members,  who 
are  unacquainted  with  the  business.  I  am  sensible  you  made 
a  great  sacrifice  in  concenting  to  the  bondage,  and  I  know 
the  encouragements  to  continue  are  small ;  yet  the  conscious 
ness  of  having  made  the  sacrifice  for  the  sake  of  promoting 
the  highest  good  of  your  Country,  must  afford  consolation." 


CHAPTER  XI 
TERM  ON  THE  BENCH 

In  1806,  the  judicial  system  of  the  State  was  essentially 
altered.  The  General  Assembly  had  been  the  ultimate  court 
of  appeal  for  errors  in  law.  In  1784  it  transferred  that 
function  to  the  twelve  "Assistants"  and  the  Lieutenant 
Governor,  styled,  when  exercising  it,  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Errors.  A  few  years  later  the  Governor  was  added  to  the 
court.  Obviously  it  was  a  bench  of  a  political  as  well  as  a 
judicial  character.  In  1806  it  was  determined  to  elect  three 
more  Judges  of  the  Superior  Court,  there  being  then  only 
six,  and  let  these  nine,  after  June,  1807,  constitute  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Errors. 

This  automatically  shut  out  any  member  of  the  Upper 
House  of  the  Legislature,  by  reason  of  a  law  passed  in  1784 
that  no  person  should  be  capable  of  holding  the  office  of 
Assistant  and  either  that  of  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court 
or  of  a  Representative  in  Congress  at  the  same  time. 

Connecticut  had  long  conducted  her  elections  on  the  system 
of  the  direct  primary.  Six  months  or  so  before  each  election 
of  State  officers,  the  freemen  met  in  their  respective  towns 
to  nominate  candidates  for  such  election.  A  Governor,  a 
Lieutenant  Governor  and  twelve  "Assistants"  or  Coun 
cillors  were  to  be  annually  elected.  These  twelve,  with  the 
Governor,  formed  the  upper  House  of  the  Legislature.  Each 
of  the  twelve  was  to  be  chosen  from  the  official  nomination 
list  on  which  the  freemen  had  previously  agreed,  by  a  plural 
ity  vote.  This  list  was  to  contain  the  names  of  the  twenty 
persons  having  the  most  votes  at  the  primary.  The  twelve 


354  Term  on  the  Bench 

Assistants  must  be  chosen  from  it,  but  the  Governor  and 
Lieutenant  Governor  might  be  chosen  from  outside. 

Under  this  system,  as  practically  administered,  the  results 
of  a  primary  were  almost  always  the  election  at  the  free- 
mans'  meetings  of  the  two  men  nominated  for  Governor  and 
Lieutenant  Governor,  and  of  the  twelve  for  "Assistants" 
whose  names  might  stand  first  on  the  official  list.  The  vote 
was  taken  on  each  nominee  in  order.  This  order  was  settled 
by  the  General  Assembly,  but  in  practice  it  almost  always 
was  arranged  so  as  to  insure  the  reelection  of  those  then  in 
office.  It  was  only  as,  in  slow  course,  they  died  or  refused  a 
re-nomination,  that  those  at  the  foot  of  the  nomination  list 
were  promoted  in  turn  to  a  position  where  an  election  was 
virtually  assured.1 

Mr.  Baldwin's  name  had  been  on  the  nomination  list  for 
Assistants  for  over  a  dozen  years.  In  1794  he  had  received 
351  votes.  Jonathan  Ingersoll  then  had  the  most  votes, 
namely,  4,604.  The  lowest  on  the  list  of  twenty  (William 
Williams)  had  1,998,  and  the  lowest  on  the  whole  number 
voted  for  (Pierpont  Edwards)  had  100  votes.2  In  1806, 
at  the  September  town  meetings,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  one  of 
the  twelve  named  first  on  the  list.  The  election  was  to  be 
in  May,  1807,  but  in  October,  1806,  he  was  elected  by  the 
General  Assembly  to  the  Bench.  This  disqualified  him  for 
election  as  an  Assistant. 

The  three  new  Judges  appointed  under  this  statute  of 
1806,  in  the  order  of  their  commissions,  were  Nathaniel 
Smith,  Jeremiah  G.  Brainard  (Yale,  Class  of  1779),  and 
Simeon  Baldwin.  All  were  Federalists.  They  took  office 
immediately  as  Judges  of  the  Superior  Court,  but  their  func- 

1  The  Three  Constitutions  of  Connecticut,  Papers  of  the  New  Haven 
Colony  Historical  Society,  V,  195. 

2  Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  545. 


Term  on  the  Bench  355 

tions  as  members  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  did  not 
become  operative  until  1808. 

Each  term  of  the  Superior  Court  was  held  by  three  Judges. 
The  Supreme  Court  of  Errors,  which  was  strictly  a  court 
of  appeal,  had  but  one  term  annually,  held  at  Hartford  and 
New  Haven  in  alternate  years.  The  salary  of  each  Judge 
was  $1,050,  except  in  case  of  the  Chief  Justice,  who  received 
the  same  allowed  for  the  Governor,  that  is,  $1,100. 

Judge  Baldwin  took  his  seat  in  the  Superior  Court  in 
October,  1806,  and  that  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  in 
June,  1808,  this  court  having  been  kept  in  its  former  shape, 
by  the  statute,  until  that  time. 

The  decisions  made  in  cases  heard  in  the  latter  were 
arranged  and  published  by  a  reporter  appointed  by  the  court. 
Decisions  made  in  the  Superior  Court  were  not  reported. 

Judge  Baldwin's  work  in  the  Superior  Court  was  accept 
able  to  the  profession.  His  habit  of  mind  was  judicial.  He 
had  strong  common  sense,  and  a  good  working  knowledge 
of  law.  He  brought  also  to  the  aid  of  his  work  in  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Errors  a  faculty  of  clear  statement  and 
easy  expression. 

The  Reporter  of  that  court,  Thomas  Day,  a  very  com 
petent  critic,  long  afterwards  expressed  this  opinion  of  his 
judicial  qualities : 

"I  had  good  opportunities  of  knowing  him  as  a  Judge; 
but  all  that  was  distinctive  of  him  in  that  capacity,  may  be 
said  in  a  few  words.  His  judgment  was  sound,  the  result 
of  thorough  investigation  and  reflection.  He  was  as  free 
from  bias  as  any  man  that  ever  gave  an  opinion.  He  was 
not  deficient  in  the  learning  obtained  from  books;  but  he 
relied  more  on  his  own  good  sense  than  on  the  subtleties  or 
refinements  of  the  law.  He  had  less  versatility  than  some 
other  men.  Indeed  the  excellence  of  Judge  Baldwin  con 
sisted  in  his  being  always  the  same  —  the  same  upright, 


Term  on  the  Bench 

deliberate,  intelligent  man.  His  leading  qualities  as  a  Judge 
were  those  which  were  conspicuous  in  him  everywhere. 
Everybody  had  confidence  in  him  whether  on  or  off  the 
bench."3 

His  first  opinion  (written,  as  all  then  were,  as  a  "per 
curiam"  one)  was  given  in  the  case  of  Beers  v.  Botsford, 

3  Day's  Reports,  164. 

In  1809  a  statute  was  adopted  making  it  the  duty  of  the 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  to  give  their  opinions 
publicly  and  separately,  and  the  first  opinion  in  our  reports 
given  by  him  under  his  name  was  that  of  Swan  v.  Wheeler, 

4  Day's  Reports,  139. 

Among  the  most  noteworthy  of  Judge  Baldwin's  opinions, 
while  holding  judicial  office,  were  those  given  in  the  follow 
ing  cases : 

Nichols  v.  Palmer,  5  Day's  Reports,  50  (1811).  Here 
he  held  that  a  voluntary  agreement  between  husband  and  wife 
for  a  separation,  accompanied  by  a  settlement  on  a  trustee 
for  her  benefit,  was  enforceable  against  the  latter.  The 
Chief  Justice  and  one  of  the  Associate  Judges  dissented. 

Palmer  v.  Allen,  5  Day's  Reports,  201  (1811).  Here  he 
gave  an  opinion  that  a  Marshal  of  the  United  States  could 
commit  a  debtor,  whose  body  had  been  attached,  to  jail,  with 
out  any  special  order  of  "mittimus"  obtained  for  the  pur 
pose.  Only  one  of  the  Judges  agreed  with  him  in  that  view ; 
but  the  case  was  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  where  his  position  was  sustained  and  the  judgment 
reversed  (7  Cranch's  Reports,  550). 

Brandin  v.  Grannis,  i  Connecticut  Reports,  402,  note 
(1811).  Here  he  supported,  on  the  ground  of  long  usage, 
the  power  of  the  court  to  allow  the  jury  in  a  civil  case  to 

3  Button,  Sketch  of  the  Life  and  Character  of  Hon.  Simeon  Bald^ 
win,  14. 


Term  on  the  Bench  357 

separate  before  agreeing  on  a  verdict.  This  usage,  which 
had  run  for  more  than  a  century,  had  given,  he  held,  a  prac 
tical  construction  as  to  the  governing  statute  which  might 
fairly  be  invoked  to  overcome  the  strict  effect  of  its  literal 
terms. 

Chief  Justice  Swift  held  office  from  1815  to  1819.  It 
became  his  practice  to  give  a  written  opinion  in  every  case. 
When  the  decision  was  that  approved  by  a  majority  of  the 
court,  the  Associate  Judges  who  agreed  with  him  seldom 
wrote  any  opinion.  Judge  Baldwin  was  quite  apt  to  take  the 
same  view  of  the  case  which  the  Chief  Justice  did,  and  this 
leaves  fewer  examples  on  record  of  his  judicial  style  than 
might  otherwise  have  been  expected.  All  the  opinions  which 
he  gave  were  carefully  prepared  and  well  worded.  Most 
of  them  indicate  a  desire  to  be  as  brief  as  he  could  well  be, 
without  risk  of  obscurity. 

Judge  Baldwin  was  painstaking  in  making  full  minutes 
of  the  cases  coming  before  him  in  each  court,  and  gave  them 
close  and  faithful  study. 

He  had  gathered  while  at  the  bar  quite  a  good  law  library 
of  his  own,  and  added  to  it  considerably  while  on  the  bench ; 
buying  over  fifty  volumes  in  a  single  year. 

A  good  deal  of  Judge  Baldwin's  time  was  now  taken  up  in 
traveling  from  one  county  to  another.  Often  he  journeyed 
behind  his  own  horse. 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  his  wife. 

"Haddam  Decr  23d  1815  Saturday 
Dear  Betsey 

We  have  had  two  very  long  &  tedious  trials; 
particularly  the  last,  the  trial  of  the  man  for  murder  -  The 
charge  was  given  to  the  Grand  Jury  on  Monday;  they 
returned  a  true  bill  on  Tuesday  forenoon  -  -  in  the  after 
noon  we  began  the  trial  before  the  petit  Jury  in  the  meeting 


3 5^  Term  on  the  Bench 

house  &  continued  the  trial  till  yesterday  at  one  oClk  when 
the  case  was  given  to  the  Jury  -  -  they  have  not  yet  returned 
their  verdict  -  It  is  expected  this  morning  -  -  at  the  open 
ing  of  C. 

The  delay  which  this  trial  has  occasioned  of  other  business 
will  keep  the  Court  into  next  week  probably  till  Wednesday 
or  Thursday  -  If  the  weather  should  continue  good,  & 
Sherman  has  a  mind  to  come  up  he  can  -  he  may  do  as  he 
please  —  if  he  does  not,  I  can  find  a  passage  to  Middletown  & 
return  in  the  stage  - 

I  am  with  great  esteem  &  affection 
Yours 

S.  Baldwin." 

In  1813,  the  following  letters  were  exchanged  between  him 
and  one  of  his  associates  on  the  bench  who  had  mislaid  some 
court  papers,  and  help  to  show  the  humor  of  each : 

Tapping  Reeve4  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

Hon.  8th  March  1813  - 

Simeon  Baldwin 

Dear  Sir 

Some  mens   misfortunes   are   said  to 

arise  from  carelessness  &  others  from  bad  luck.  I  have 
been  unfortunate  as  you  will  see  in  the  sequel.  I  would  thank 
you  to  attribute  mine  to  the  latter  cause,  as  that  is  the  most 
charitable  mode  of  accounting.  -  My  misfortune  is  that  I 
cannot  find  the  papers  that  I  brought  home  from  the  Court 
of  Errors,  &  I  know  not  what  cause,  or  causes  if  there  were 
more  than  one,  were  assigned  to  me,  &  if  I  did,  I  have  no 
minutes  of  points  made  or  arguments  used,  and  should  prob 
ably  omit  them,  in  my  attempt  to  give  reasons.  I  have  waited 
until  this  time  in  hopes  that  I  might  find  them,  but  I  have 
given  the  thing  up,  as  my  family  tell  me  that  we  have  no  vine 
gar  barrel  in  our  house.  I  would  thank  you  to  help  me  out  of 

4  Tapping  Reeve  (Princeton,  Class  of  1763)  was  appointed  Chief 
Justice  in  1814. 


Term  on  the  Bench  359 

this  scrape,  as  far  as  may  be  in  your  power,  by  informing  me 
what  case  was  assigned  to  me,  &  what  were  the  points  in  the 
case  &c  &c. 

The  case  of  Merrill  vs  Meacham,  I  remember  that  I 
intended  to  give  reasons  in,  altho  it  was  not  assigned  to  me. 
I  would  thank  you  for  minutes  of  what  the  Def*  in  Error 
claimed  as  his  defence.  —  And  also  the  case  of  Sanford  v 
Sanford.  I  would  apologize  to  you  for  giving  you  this 
trouble  if  I  had  any.  I  am  willing  however  to  declare  that 
I  verily  believe  that  when  you  become  as  careless  as  I  am, 
&  I  become  as  careful  as  you  are,  I  shall  be  willing  to  assist 
you  in  like  circumstances  -  -  &  if  you  will  accept  of  this 
declaration  as  a  set  off  we  will  have  our  accounts  balanced 
when  we  meet. 

Your  friend 

T.  Reeve  - 

The  allusion  to  a  vinegar  barrel  refers  to  a  misadventure 
of  Judge  Reeve  when  at  the  bar.  The  story  was  thus  told 
by  Judge  Baldwin  in  1833 : 

"When  Judge  Reeve  was  in  full  practice  as  a  lawyer,  he 
was  engaged  in  an  important  cause,  depending  for  proof 
almost  wholly  on  depositions  -  These  he  had  caused  to  be 
opened  by  the  clerk  of  the  Court,  &  for  safe  keeping  put  them 
into  his  pocket,  &,  soon  after,  having  occasion  to  go  into  the 
apartment  where  the  family  vinegar  barrel  was  deposited, 
and  seeing  it  without  a  bung,  he  thoughtlessly  put  his  hand 
into  his  pocket  for  waste-paper  &  unawares  pulled  out  the 
bundle  of  Depositions  -  -  wisped  them  into  a  bung  &  with  it 
stopped  the  barrel.  - 

A  few  days  afterwards  the  cause  was  called  for  trial  —  & 
these  depositions  could  not  be  found.  After  reasonable  time 
given  to  search  all  usual  places  of  deposit,  the  cause  was 
sacrificed  for  want  of  them.  Some  time  afterwards,  they 
were  accidentally  discovered  quietly  performing  their  duty 
as  a  bung  to  the  vinegar  barrel  —  Upon  this  the  Judge,  then 
a  lawyer,  with  his  wonted  humour,  &  ingeniousness  stated  the 


360  Term  on  the  Bench 

facts  as  a  ground  for  a  new  trial,  in  favor  of  his  client  which 
he  obtained,  &  with  the  aid  of  his  proof  thus  recovered 
obtained  final  judg*  in  favor  of  his  Client.  — " 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Tapping  Reeve. 

"New  Haven  Mar  15,  1813  - 
Dear  Sir 

I  have  received  yours  of  the  8th  ins*  informing  me 
of  your  misfortune  in  the  loss  of  our  minutes. 

However  powerfully  some  casuists  may  insist,  that  bad 
luck  is  always  an  attendant  upon  carelessness,  yet  we  know  it 
sometimes  overtakes  the  most  careful  You  certainly 

need  not  have  appealed  to  my  charitable  construction  to 
induce  me  to  attribute  yours  to  the  latter  source  -  -  when  it 
is  so  well  known  that  your  carefulness  is  even  proverbial.  - 
As  however  the  most  careful  keeper  of  archives,  will  always 
find  it  indispensable,  that  he  should  be  furnished  with  a  suit 
able  deposit  -  -  you  must  permit  me,  to  take  the  liberty,  to 
urge  you  to  solicit  Mrs  Reeve  never  to  suffer  the  family  to  be 
again  destitute  of  a  vinegar  barrel.  - 

I  have  with  great  cheerfulness  done  what  I  could,  from  my 
imperfect  minutes,  to  help  you  out  of  your  scrape  (as  you 
term  it)  I  find  the  only  cause  assigned  to  you,  was  Fuller 
&c  v  Merrow  &c.  This  I  have  given  you  such  minutes  of, 
as  I  had.  I  think  however  you  will  need  the  Declaration. 

I  have  also  transcribed  my  minutes  in  the  case  of  Sanford 
v  Sanford,  &  Merril  v  Meecham.  I  wish  they  were  more 
perfect ;  they  may  however  serve  to  bring  more  to  your  mind 

-  The  original  files  of  these  you  can  obtain  if  necessary  from 
Mr  Wolcoft.  - 

With  my  best  respects  to  Mra  Reeve  &  my 
best  wishes  for  your  happiness 

I  am  with  esteem 

your  Hble  Ser* 

S.  Baldwin. 

It  was  the  general  rule  in  Connecticut  to  fill  State  offices 
by  annual  appointments.  It  was  also  the  general  tradition 


Term  on  the  Bench  36 1 

to  reappoint  all  Judges,  at  the  expiration  of  the  year  for  which 
they  had  been  originally  appointed.  It  was  a  tradition  sup 
ported  by  the  unbroken  continuance  of  the  same  political 
party — the  Federalists — in  power,  from  the  era  of  the 
Revolution  down  to  1817.  In  that  year  Oliver  Wolcott  was 
elected  Governor,  on  a  coalition  ticket,  supported  by  the 
Democrats  and  many  of  the  Federalists,  mainly  Episco 
palians  and  Baptists  who  were  dissatisfied  with  the  position 
of  Congregationalism  as  an  established  church.  This  com 
bination  was  known  as  the  Toleration  party.  One  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Democrats  in  the  State  or,  as  they  were  still 
often  called,  the  Republicans,  was  Abraham  Bishop  (Yale, 
Class  of  1778)  of  New  Haven.  He  had  spoken  in  public 
with  great  force  and  spirit  against  the  system  under  which 
all  Judges  were  appointed  by  a  legislature,  one  branch  of 
which  (the  Council)  was  generally  controlled  by  practicing 
lawyers.  In  a  political  oration,  delivered  a  year  or  two 
before  Judge  Baldwin's  appointment  to  the  bench,  at  a  time 
when  seven  of  the  "Assistants,"  being  a  majority  of  all, 
were  lawyers  and  Federalists,  he  had  attacked  them  thus : 

"By  the  breath  of  these  seven  men  are  annually  brought 
into  new  life  six  judges  of  superior  court,  twenty-eight  of 
probate,  forty  of  county  courts,  and  five  hundred  and  ten 
justices  of  the  peace,  with  power  of  increasing  these  little 
potentates,  equal  to  that  of  George  in  the  increase  of  his  poor 
knights  of  Windsor,  an  honor  conferred  on  every  man  who 
congratulates  him  on  his  occasional  transitions  from  common 
to  political  delirium.  To  each  of  these  judges  the  silent 
language  of  the  seven  men  is  constantly  sounding,  like  a 
catechism  in  the  ears  of  a  child,  'Remember  now  thy  Creator, 
lest  the  evil  days  come,  and  the  years  draw  nigh,  wherein 
he  shall  say,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  thee.' ' 

The  Tolerationists  were  not  inclined  to  let  a  state  of  things 
continue  which  could  even  seem  to  support  charges  like  these. 


362  Term  on  the  Bench 

At  the  May  Session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1818,  the 
Democrats  were  in  control  of  both  houses  of  the  General 
Assembly.  In  order  to  keep  up  the  full  number  of  Judges 
of  the  Superior  Court  it  was  necessary  either  to  reappoint 
Judge  Baldwin,  or  to  replace  him.  He  was  replaced  by  John 
T.  Peters,  a  Democrat,  who  entered  at  once  upon  the  duties 
of  his  office,  and  sat  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  at  its 
June  Term  in  that  year. 


CHAPTER  XII 
LIFE  AS  A  PRACTICING  LAWYER  FROM  1818  TO  1851 

Judge  Baldwin's  term  on  the  bench  expired  in  May,  1818. 
One  of  his  associates  on  the  court,  Calvin  Goddard,  who 
before  his  connection  with  it  had  been  an  ardent  Federalist, 
was  also  not  reflected,  and  wrote  him  thus  on  July  i,  1818: 

"I  understand  you  are  at  the  bar  -  How  do  you  like  the 
business?  I  glory  (not  in  my  shame)  but  in  the  honor  of 
being  dismissed  with  such  a  man,  by  such  men  for  such  rea 
sons  -  That  /  was  a  sinner  above  all  those  upon  whom  the 
-  Hartford  Convention  fell,  I  was  aware.  But  what  dis 
tinguished  sins  had  you  committed?  You  had  neither 
plotted,  planned  or  executed  the  deadly  treason  of  that 
treasonable  body. 

But  I  cannot  enlarge  -  It  is  a  little  unpleasant  in  the 
decline  of  life  to  be  obliged  to  work  hard  for  a  living,  but  I 
hope  neither  you,  nor  your  humble  servant,  will  furnish  to 
malignity,  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  or  believing,  that  it  has 
been  able  to  disturb  our  peace." 

Judge  Baldwin's  peace  was  certainly,  from  this  time  on, 
never  disturbed  by  any  press  of  professional  engagements. 

In  advising  with  inventors  and  drafting  claims  for  patents 
he  had  been  often  employed,  before  he  became  a  Judge,  and 
was  often  employed  again.  He  was  frequently  appointed,  by 
agreement  of  the  parties,  as  a  "committee/'  or  referee,  or 
auditor.  But  in  bringing  suits  and  arguing  causes  in  court 
he  was  seldom  retained.  Of  those  for  whom  he  had  acted 
at  the  bar  in  1806,  many  had  died  and  others  had  become 
clients  of  younger  men,  from  whom  they  disliked  to  part. 

He  had  an  occasional  fee  for  drawing  a  will,  and  some- 


364       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1818  to  1851 

times  acted  as  a  commissioner  on  an  insolvent  estate.  He 
was  now  and  then  made  an  executor. 

One  of  the  largest  single  fees  he  ever  received  was  that 
of  $100  charged  in  1826  for  services  as  chairman  of  the 
committee  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the  Eagle  Bank. 

One  interesting  cause  in  which  he  was  retained  was  a  suit 
brought  in  1822  against  the  owners  of  the  steamboat  United 
States,  which  had  been  plying  between  New  Haven  and 
Byram  Cove,  who  were  served  with  an  order  of  injunction 
from  the  Court  of  Chancery  of  New  York,  forbidding  them 
to  run  her  in  the  waters  of  that  State.  This  was  one  of  a 
cluster  of  cases  in  various  States,  involving  the  right  of  a 
State  to  legislate  as  to  inter-State  commerce,  of  which  Gib 
bons  v.  Ogden1  is  the  best  known. 

He  was  employed  to  present  the  claims  of  two  Connecticut 
insurance  companies  for  losses  by  spoliations  during  the  state 
of  imperfect  maritime  war  which  existed  between  the  closing 
years  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  the  opening  years  of  the 
nineteenth.  These  he  put  into  form  to  bring  before  the  Com 
missioners  appointed  to  pass  upon  them  under  our  treaties 
with  France  and  Naples.  They  were  the  subject  of  much 
correspondence,  and  considerable  sums  were  eventually 
awarded  to  the  claimants. 

The  most  important  part  of  his  practice  after  1818  was  as 
a  patent  solicitor.  Roger  Minot  Sherman,  in  sending  an 
inventor  to  him  in  1826,  for  services  of  this  character,  wrote, 
"I  have  advised  him  to  get  your  assistance,  &  I  hope  you  will 
be  able  to  devote  sufficient  time  to  it.  No  other  man  in  the 
State  can  do  it  as  well/' 

He  continued  work  in  this  line  until  shortly  before  his  last 
illness.  One  of  his  clients  in  1844  was  Nelson  Goodyear, 
for  whom  he  drew  a  Caveat  to  protect  him  while  perfecting 

X9  Wheaton's  United  States  Reports,  I. 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1818  to  1851       365 

a  process  for  improvements  in  the  manufacture  of  india- 
rubber  cloth. 

Carlyle  wrote  in  his  journal,  when  his  old  friend,  Lady 
Ashburton,  died  in  1857,  "Her  work — call  it  her  grand  and 
noble  endurance  of  want  of  work  --is  all  done."5 

As  we  look  back  on  the  life  of  Simeon  Baldwin  after  he 
left  the  bench,  it  is  plain  that  half  of  it  was  one  long 
endurance  of  want  of  work.  At  the  age  of  fifty-seven  he 
found  his  public  occupation  gone,  and  little  of  private  busi 
ness  to  take  its  place.  Comparatively  few  clients  came  to 
his  door.  His  son,  Roger  S.  Baldwin,  was  practicing  law 
in  the  same  town  with  increasing  success,  and  an  increasing 
family  to  call  out  his  best  endeavors.  Judge  Baldwin  had 
plenty  of  calls  on  his  philanthropy,  and,  as  we  have  seen, 
answered  them  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  but  few  for  his 
professional  services.  He  was  known  to  have  accumulated 
some  property  and  its  amount  was  probably  over-estimated 
by  the  public.  Small  cases  seldom  go  to  rich  lawyers,  and 
most  cases  in  Connecticut,  when  he  reentered  the  bar,  were 
small.  There  were  then  no  legal  partnerships  in  Connect 
icut  and  so  no  chance  that  a  Judge,  on  going  out  of  office, 
would  be  asked  by  younger  men  to  head  a  firm.  The  tradi 
tions  of  the  English  bar  that  a  barrister  must  stand  alone, 
on  his  own  feet,  remained  in  full  force. 

In  1820,  he  had  a  total  income  from  all  sources,  of 
$1,012.22.  Of  this,  $646.05  was  income  from  property,  and 
$108.69  from  boarders.  In  the  same  year  he  spent  $1,006.56. 

We  have  Mr.  Micawber's  authority  for  the  proposition 
that  "if  a  man  had  twenty  pounds  a  year  for  his  income,  and 
spent  nineteen  pounds,  nineteen  shillings  and  six  pence,  he 
would  be  happy,  but  that  if  he  spent  twenty  pounds,  one,  he 

2  Froude,  Thomas  Carlyle,  A  History  of  his  Life  in  London,  I,  115. 


366       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1818  to  1851 

would  be  miserable."  A  margin  of  $5.66  at  the  end  of  the 
year,  however,  can  hardly  have  been  a  source  of  much  satis 
faction  to  one  who  as  a  younger  man  had  earned  a  handsome 
professional  income,  and  who  now  occupied  a  social  position 
which  involved  certain  outlays  which  he  could  hardly  curtail. 

In  December,  1820,  when  the  term  of  office  of  Abraham 
Bishop  as  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New  Haven  was  about 
to  expire,  it  was  rumored  that  he  did  not  desire  a  re-appoint 
ment,  and  Judge  Baldwin  consulted  some  of  his  friends  as 
to  applying  for  the  place.  He  learned  from  one  of  them 
that  the  rumor  was  probably  unfounded,  and  that  President 
Monroe  was  disposed  to  re-appoint  all  capable  men  holding 
such  offices,  unless  there  were  strong  objections. 

Eight  years  later  Mr.  Bishop  let  it  be  known  that  he  did 
not  desire  a  renewal  of  his  commission,  and  a  petition  for 
Judge  Baldwin's  appointment  was  signed  by  the  leading 
merchants  and  shippers  of  the  city.  His  friends  were  active 
in  his  behalf,  but  without  success.  He  wrote  his  son 
Ebenezer  in  April,  after  the  place  had  been  given  to  another, 
as  follows : 

"When  I  saw  the  letters  of  Gov.  Woodbury  &  others  & 
learned  that  the  principle  avowed  in  Gen.  Jackson's  letter  to 
Mr  Monroe  could  not  now  be  pursued,  &  that  the  most  noisy 
supporters  of  the  change  of  adr  must  be  first  rewarded  & 
that  the  federalists  of  the  old  School  had  been  abused  too 
much  to  be  forgiven  I  had  little  expectation  of  succeeding  — 
The  principle  assumed  would  not  admit  of  it  &  in  its  applica 
tion  other  merit  &  fitness  are  out  of  the  question."  .... 

"I  therefore  hope  no  further  to  invoke  the  feelings  & 
interest  of  yourself  or  R.  S.  B.  in  the  event  -  We  had  all 
better  I  think  be  silent,  learn  wisdom  by  experience  &  devote 
ourselves  exclusively  &  wholly  to  professional  employment." 

The  letter  of  Gen.  Jackson  which  had  encouraged  Judge 
Baldwin  to  enter  the  race  for  the  collectorship  was  no  doubt 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1818  to  16*51       367 

that  written  to  President  Monroe  in  1816,  in  which  the  Gen 
eral  urged  an  entire  disregard  of  party  affiliations  in  con 
stituting  the  new  cabinet  to  be  appointed  in  March,  1817. 
In  such  a  matter,  he  wrote,  "the  chief  magistrate  of  a  great 
and  powerful  nation  should  never  indulge  in  party  feelings," 
but  always  bear  in  mind  that  "he  acts  for  the  whole  and  not 
a  part  of  the  community." 

By  R.  S.  B.  was  meant  Roger  S.  Baldwin,  who  had  at  this 
time  become  one  of  Jackson's  admirers.3 

In  April,  1829,  Judge  Baldwin  writes  to  one  of  his  sons, 
who  had  asked  for  a  loan : 

"I  have  no  business  &  am  dependent  on  scanty  means  for 
support,  &  must  husband  them  with  great  economy  &  some 
appearance  of  parsimony,  to  bring  the  year  about." 

In  1837  he  writes  to  another  of  them  that  he  feels  keenly 
the  results  of  the  commercial  panic  of  that  year ;  though  one 
might  suppose  that,  situated  as  he  was,  "without  business  & 
living  on  former  earnings,"  he  could  not  suffer  much  from 
its  effects. 

In  1844  he  drew  up  a  remonstrance  by  the  New  Haven  and 
Milford  Turnpike  Co.  against  the  grant  of  a  charter  for  the 
New  York  and  New  Haven  railroad.  The  objections  urged 
were  that  under  a  previous  grant  the  turnpike  company  had 
made  a  good  turnpike  road  between  New  Haven  and  Mil- 
ford  at  a  cost  of  over  $15,000,  and  had  a  vested  right  to  its 
enjoyment;  that  this  right  would  be  necessarily  impaired 
by  the  proposed  charter  and  could  not  be  so  impaired  unless 
the  calls  of  the  public  imperiously  demanded  it,  nor  then 
without  reasonable  compensation;  that  there  was  no  such 

3  On  the  anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  New  Orleans,  January  8,  1828, 
he  had  taken  part  in  a  celebration  of  the  day,  at  New  Haven,  which 
closed  with  a  dinner,  at  which  he  offered  one  of  the  toasts. 


368       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1818  to  1851 

imperious  call;  that  "if  confined  between  Bridgeport  and 
New  Haven  a  railroad  can  be  no  object  either  for  the  public 
use  or  for  private  speculation  —  &  if  extended  along  the 
sound  to  New  York  —  it  embraces  a  portion  of  Country 
where  the  public  is  as  well,  if  not  better  accommodated  by 
regular  Packetts  &  unrivalled  steamboats";  and  that  the 
remonstrants  "fully  believe  that  the  novelty  of  the  thing  & 
the  mania  for  rail  roads,  rather  than  the  public  demand, 
sustains  the  application,  -  -  and  if  granted  without  reserve 
they  fully  believe  that  neither  the  Turnpike  nor  the  railroad 
can  be  supported  without  legislative  aid/' 

He  went  before  the  General  Assembly  to  argue  in  support 
of  this  remonstrance.  The  charter  which  he  opposed  was 
granted  and  no  compensation  made  to  his  client.  The  case 
could  hardly  be  distinguished  in  principle  from  that  of  the 
Charles  River  Bridge  in  Massachusetts,  decided  in  1837  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  which,  though 
by  a  bare  majority  of  one,  a  similar  claim  by  a  bridge  com 
pany  was  thrown  out,  with  the  observation  that  to  recognize 
it  would  be  to  jeopardize  millions  that  had  been  invested  in 
railroads  and  canals  upon  lines  of  travel  before  occupied  by 
turnpikes.4 

Four  years  later  he  appeared  again  before  a  committee  of 
the  General  Assembly,  on  another  matter  in  which  he  had  a 
personal  interest,  and  spoke  with  unabated  vigor.  In  1848 
also  he  prepared  a  brief  eulogy  of  Chancellor  Kent,  who  had 
died  in  1847,  to  read  at  the  meeting  of  the  Yale  Alumni  at 
Commencement.  Illness  prevented  his  attendance,  but  it 
was  subsequently  published  in  the  New  Haven  newspapers. 
In  the  same  year  he  furnished  his  recollections  of  the  second 
President  Edwards  to  Rev.  Dr.  William  B.  Sprague  of 

4  Charles  River  Bridge  v.  Warren  Bridge,  n  Peters  United  States 
Reports,  420,  553. 


Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1818  to  1851       369 

Albany,  who  was  then  compiling  his  biographies  of  Congre 
gational  ministers.  Dr.  Sprague,  in  thanking  him  for  this 
communication,  writes : 

"I  know  not  where  else  age  may  have  fixed  its  mark  upon 
you ;  but  I  am  sure  it  is  upon  none  of  the  physical  or  intel 
lectual  faculties  requisite  to  your  recalling  and  recording  with 
the  most  perfect  propriety  the  events  of  by-gone  days." 

A  few  months  later  he  began  a  sketch  of  the  career  of  his 
brother,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Baldwin  of  Danbury,  for  the  same 
work,  and  completed  it  in  October,  1849. 

His  last  appearance  at  the  Court  House  was  at  a  meeting 
of  the  bar  on  April  14,  1851,  called  to  take  action  on  the 
death,  two  days  before,  of  Chief  Justice  Daggett.  He  was 
chosen  as  chairman  and  opened  the  proceedings  with  a  short 
speech.  The  following  memorandum  of  it  in  his  handwrit 
ing  shows  that  the  natural  force  of  his  mind  remained 
unabated,  in  the  last  month  of  his  long  life. 

"Remarks  of  Judge  Baldwin  on  Character  of  Chief  Justice 
Daggett  1851." 

"At  the  bar  meeting  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Judge 
Daggett,  Judge  Baldwin  being  called  to  Preside,  on  taking 
the  chair  observed  that  as  he  had  known  Judge  Daggett 
longer  than  any  other  person  present  he  thought  it  would  be 
proper  for  him  to  state  his  early  history  &  the  course  he 
adopted  and  pursued  to  make  him  what  he  was. 

He  then  observed  in  substance  as  follows :  that  Mr  Daggett 
entered  College  in  1781  &  joined  the  Jun.  Class  which  grad 
uated  in  1783.  That  he  afterwards  became  well  acquainted 
with  Mr  Daggett  who  soon  acquired  the  reputation  of  a 
thorough  scholar  &  when  graduated  was  among  those  who 
received  the  first  honors  of  his  Class  -  That  he  was  soon 
after  appointed  Rector  of  The  Hopkins  grammar  school  & 
Butler  in  Yale  College,  which  led  him  to  intimate  intercourse 


37°       Life  as  a  Practicing  Lawyer  from  1818  to  1851 

with  the  faculty.  During  that  period  he  with  Mr  Daggett 
read  law  together,  under  the  direction  of  Judge  Chauncey  & 
were  afterward  together  examined  &  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
the  winter  of  1785/6  Mr  Daggett  immediately  opened  an 
office  &  soon  became  known  &  distinguished  as  a  young  Law 
yer  of  promising  prospects  He  then  adopted  the  resolution 
to  avoid  all  offices  or  other  employment  not  connected  with 
a  profession  &  to  devote  himself  exclusively  to  his  profes 
sional  studies  &  pursuits  with  a  determination  to  become  a 
distinguished  lawyer,  &  in  this  he  was  eminently  successful. 
In  addition  to  his  legal  science  Mr  Daggett  was  also  distin 
guished  for  his  amiable  social  qualities  &  for  his  honorable 
practice.  Despising  &  rejecting  all  the  low  chicanery  some 
times  imputed  to  the  profession,  he  was  faithful  to  his  clients, 
&  in  the  management  of  his  causes  on  trial  before  the  Courts 
his  course  was  fair  &  respectful  to  all  concerned  in  it,  par 
ticularly  to  the  witnesses,  from  whom  he  had  a  happy  faculty 
of  eliciting  the  truth  without  resorting  to  the  odious  &  often 
useless  course  pursued  by  some  in  their  cross  examination. 
In  his  address  to  the  Court  he  was  always  respectful.  His 
arguments  were  not  long  but  always  to  the  point.  He  lost 
no  time  in  discussing  unimportant  circumstances  but  select 
ing  the  few  facts  or  principles  on  which  the  case  depended 
he  pressed  them  upon  the  Court  with  great  &  successful 
energy.  By  pursuing  a  course  thus  fair  &  honorable  he 
became  a  popular  man  &  well  qualified  to  sustain  the  various 
important  offices  which  you  know  were  afterwards  bestowed 
upon  him.  These  offices  he  sustained  with  great  honor  to 
himself  &  usefulness  to  the  public;  some  of  them  till  age  & 
its  infirmities  induced  him  to  relinquish  them  one  after 
another.  And  at  the  age  of  86  having  lived  a  long  life  honor 
able  &  useful  he  is  now  gone  to  his  long  rest  in  joyful  hope 
leaving  an  honorable  example  to  be  followed  by  all  who  aim 
to  become  useful  citizens  &  eminent  in  the  legal  profession/' 


CHAPTER  XIII 
FINANCIAL  MEANS  AND  POSITIONS 

Judge  Baldwin  came  into  active  life  as  a  man  of  business 
at  that  period  towards  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century 
when  the  financial  work  of  the  world  was  beginning  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  corporations.  Prior  to  1800,  there  had 
been  chartered  in  this  country  some  two  or  three  hundred 
moneyed  corporations;  almost  all  after  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  took  effect  in  ifSg.1  Judge  Baldwin  saw 
that  their  number  and  importance  must  rapidly  increase. 
Before  1800,  investments  in  this  country  were  mainly  in  real 
estate  and  loans.  After  1800  they  soon  came  to  be  largely 
made  in  the  stock  of  private  corporations.  He  began  early 
to  invest  his  surplus  earnings  in  such  securities.  A  bank  in 
New  Haven  was  chartered  in  1792  and  organized  with  some 
effort  in  1795, — the  "New  Haven  Bank."  He  was  one  of 
the  original  subscribers,  taking  three  shares. 

In  his  later  years,  he  once  said  to  a  young  man  of  some 
means,  that  in  his  judgment  stock  in  well  managed  turnpike 
companies  was  a  safe  kind  of  property  to  buy  and  hold,  for 
people  would  always  use  roads,  and  want  them  to  be  kept  in 
good  repair. 

Connecticut  was  the  leader  in  the  general  American  move 
ment  for  the  establishment  of  turnpikes.  She  began  to 
incorporate  them  in  1795.  At  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
century  she  had  granted  twenty-three  such  charters,  as  com- 

1  Baldwin,  Private  Corporations,  Two  Centuries  Growth  of  Ameri 
can  Law,  276;  Davis,  Essays  in  the  Earlier  History  of  American 
Corporations,  No.  IV,  8. 


3  7  2  Financial  Means  and  Positions 

pared  with  thirteen  in  New  York  and  nine  in  Massachusetts.2 
Taken  together  every  section  of  the  State  was  touched.  Her 
highways  had  been  comparatively  few,  and  generally  rough 
and  poor.  They  now  became  greatly  increased  in  number 
and  improved  in  condition.  The  State  supervised  their 
maintenance. 

Judge  Baldwin  was  among  the  early  investors  in  the  shares 
of  such  companies,  and  held  stock  in  five.  Of  two  he  became 
the  clerk.  This  was  a  position  the  occupant  of  which  was 
usually  one  of  the  principal  managing  officers. 

In  October,  1798,  the  "Hartford  and  New  Haven  Turn 
pike  Co."  was  incorporated.  Senator  James  Hillhouse  was 
the  main  pillar  of  the  enterprise.  He  was  made  its  Presi 
dent  and  Mr.  Baldwin  its  Treasurer.  Each  was  actively 
engaged  in  superintending  the  mode  of  construction  and 
repair,  and  they  worked  harmoniously  together  for  a  long 
period.  Mr.  Baldwin  remained  Treasurer  until  shortly 
before  his  death. 

In  1801  a  charter  was  granted  to  "The  Company  for 
Mutual  Assurance  against  Fire/'  which  was  organized  in 
New  Haven.  Mr.  Baldwin  was  one  of  the  original  directors, 
and  also  its  Treasurer.  The  next  year  he  was  one  of  the 
corporators  named  in  the  charter  of  "The  Milford  and  Strat 
ford  Bridge  Company." 

He  was  also,  during  a  long  course  of  years  and  until  his 
death,  a  director  and  the  clerk  of  the  New  Haven  and  Mil- 
ford  Turnpike  Co.,  which  was  chartered  in  1802. 

Up  to  the  time  of  his  going  on  the  bench,  his  practice  had 
enabled  him  to  save  some  money  every  year.  His  last  inven 
tory,  drawn  off  as  of  January  i,  1806,  was  as  follows: 

2  Davis,  Eighteenth  Century  Business  Corporations,  221. 


Financial  Means  and  Positions  373 

"On  Book         say  -  3000 

Notes        say  -  4000 

12  Bank  Shares  @  200  -  2400 
10  Insurance  do  @     15  -  150 

2  Wharf       do  @  235  470 

2  Straits  Turnpike  do  @  128                 256 

2  Goshen                    do  @  50                 100 

13  H  &  N  H.               do  @  80               1040 

2  Milford                   do  @  130                 260 
10  Rimmon  falls         do  @  100               1000 

3  Washington  Bridge    @  50                 150 


12826 

House  &  Homelot  say  3000 

Miles  Lot  6  Acres  400 

Staples  Lot  8  Acres  240 

High  Street  land  say  400 

Hamden  land  my  part  200 

Beaver  pond  Land  say  75 

New  Town  Land  500 


4825 


17651 
Add  for  book  debts  omitted  600 


18251 
Less  due  sundry  parties  850 


Net  estate  $17,401" 

In  1806  he  added  a  new  office  wing  to  his  house,  and  his 
inventory  amounted  on  January  i,  1807,  to  $20,170.  On 
one  dated  March  I,  1809,  his  book  accounts  were  only  $1,031, 
but  his  notes  aggregated  $5,571,  and  he  had  $800  in  Bank 
stock  and  $400  in  shares  of  the  Derby  Fishing  and  Insurance 


3  74  Financial  Means  and  Positions 

Co.;  his  total  estate  being  $21,364.  On  January  i,  1823, 
his  annual  inventory  footed  up  $23,101.  At  his  decease  his 
net  estate  was  a  little  over  $30,000,  and  his  four  residuary 
legatees  received  about  $27,570. 

The  Derby  Fishing  Company  was  chartered  in  1806,  and 
subsequently  given  the  power  to  engage  in  marine  insurance 
and,  under  certain  conditions,  in  banking.  It  suffered  from 
French  spoliations  of  vessels  and  cargoes  which  it  had 
insured,  and  went  into  liquidation  in  1836.  Judge  Baldwin, 
who  owned  forty  shares  in  it,  was  elected  President  after  it 
retired  from  active  business ;  and  wound  up  its  affairs.  He 
succeeded  in  obtaining  payment  of  about  $26,000,  under  a 
treaty  with  the  King  of  Naples,  for  claims  for  spoliations,  and 
remained  in  office  until  his  death. 

A  charter  for  the  "New  Haven  Fire  Insurance  Co."  was 
granted  in  1813.  Judge  Baldwin  took  ten  shares.  In  1822 
he  became  its  President,  but  only  to  wind  it  up,  the  charter 
being  repealed  that  year. 

He  early  became  a  director  in  the  New  Haven  Bank,  and 
held  office  by  annual  elections  until  June  i,  1827,  when  he 
retired  in  favor  of  his  son,  Roger  S.  Baldwin. 

In  1811  a  new  bank  in  New  Haven  was  chartered.  It 
was  named  the  Eagle  Bank  and  had  an  authorized  capital 
of  $500,000.  Five  Commissioners,  of  whom  Judge  Baldwin 
was  one,  were  named  in  the  charter  to  receive  and  allot  sub 
scriptions.  No  one  was  to  be  eligible  as  a  director  for  more 
than  three  years  out  of  four,  except  the  President.  On  open 
ing  the  books  for  subscriptions,  they  poured  in  until  amount 
ing  to  four  times  the  authorized  capital;  $600,000  of  this 
came  from  citizens  of  New  Haven. 

Judge  Baldwin  invested  heavily,  for  him,  in  the  stock  of 
the  Bank,  and  became  first  a  director  and  then,  after  the 
resignation  of  that  office  by  William  W.  Woolsey,  in  Novem- 


Financial  Means  and  Positions  375 

her,  1815,  President.  On  January  i,  1817,  he  had  43  paid 
up  shares,  of  $100  each. 

He  found  his  judicial  duties,  especially  when  holding  court 
on  the  circuit,  made  it  inconvenient  to  sign  the  bills  of  the 
bank,  as  promptly  as  was  sometimes  desirable,  and  on  Decem 
ber  2,  1817,  he  resigned  both  as  director  and  President. 
George  Hoadly,  the  cashier,  was  elected  his  successor,  and 
a  few  years  later  some  ill-advised  loans  of  large  amount 
brought  the  bank  to  a  condition  of  insolvency. 

This  was  in  1825.  The  next  year  the  General  Assembly 
authorized  the  shareholders  to  appoint  a  committee  of  their 
number  to  investigate  the  state  of  its  affairs  and  replace  the 
existing  board  of  directors.  Such  a  committee  was 
appointed.  Of  these  Judge  Baldwin  was  chairman,  and  on 
its  report  three  agents  were  chosen  (in  June,  1826)  to  wind 
up  its  affairs.  Judge  Baldwin  was  one  of  the  three.  The 
report  showed  that  the  bank  had  loans  outstanding  of  over 
$1,600,000,  and  the  agents  for  winding  up  soon  found  that 
much  of  this  was  insufficiently  secured.  They  sued  the 
former  cashier  for  a  million  and  a  half  dollars  damages,  and 
considerable  litigation  ensued. 

The  final  outcome  was  that  the  shareholders  suffered  a 
total  loss;  what  property  there  was  being  absorbed  by 
creditors. 

Judge  Baldwin  and  Lyman  Law  presented  a  petition  to 
the  General  Assembly,  in  1828,  for  a  charter  for  the  "City 
Bank  in  New  Haven,"  with  a  capital  of  $300,000.  This  was 
intended  to  save  something  for  the  Eagle  Bank  shareholders. 
A  bill  was  reported  granting  the  petition,  but  it  proved  of  no 
benefit  to  them. 

In  1820,  Judge  Baldwin  was  one  of  the  incorporators 
named  in  a  charter  for  the  "Savings  Bank  of  New  Haven." 
It  was  to  be  purely  an  institution  for  the  benefit  of  the 


3  76  Financial  Means  and  Positions 

depositors.  It  was  soon  organized,  and  received  deposits 
to  the  amount  of  about  $90,000.  This  was  all  lent  to  the 
Eagle  Bank,  repayable  on  demand  with  interest  at  the  rate 
of  four  per  cent.  When  that  bank  became  insolvent,  its 
officers  repaid  part  of  this  loan  and  secured  the  rest.  The 
courts  sustained  the  preference,3  but  the  bank  was,  in  the 
end,  wound  up.  Another  Savings  Bank,  named  the  New 
Haven  Savings  Bank,  was  then  incorporated,  in  1838.  Judge 
Baldwin's  name  stood  first  in  the  list  of  incorporators.  This 
has  now  deposits  of  over  21  millions,  and  a  surplus  of  nearly 
a  million  and  a  half.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  making 
it  a  success,  and  was  elected  its  first  President, — an  office 
which  carried  no  salary,  though  considerable  responsibility. 

In  1813  the  "New  Haven  Fire  Insurance  Company"  was 
chartered.  Judge  Baldwin  was  elected  its  President,  and 
it  soon  began  to  issue  policies.  It  was  the  twelfth  such  com 
pany  established  in  the  United  States.  Events  proved  that 
it  made  one  too  many,  and  its  charter  was  repealed  in  1822. 
The  shareholders  got  back  almost  all  their  investment. 

In  May,  1822,  the  Farmington  Canal  Company  was  incor 
porated  in  Connecticut.  It  was  to  construct  a  canal  from 
New  Haven  through  Farmington  to  the  Massachusetts  State 
line  in  Southwick.  Five  Commissioners  were  appointed  in 
the  charter,  who  were  to  open  books  for  subscriptions  to  the 
capital  stock,  to  determine  the  route  and  the  lands  needed, 
to  assess  land  damages,  and  to  inspect  the  work  of  construc 
tion.  Judge  Baldwin  was  named  as  the  chairman. 

The  Commissioners  met  in  the  following  July  to  determine 
the  route  and  continued  actively  engaged  in  the  discharge  of 
their  functions  till  June,  1828.  Their  main  work  was  then 
completed  but  they  were  reappointed  from  year  to  year  down 

3  See  Catlin  v.  Eagle  Bank,  6  Conn.  233 ;  Connecticut  Herald  for 
July  i,  1828. 


Financial  Means  and  Positions  377 

to  1835,  although  Judge  Baldwin  had  tendered  his  resigna 
tion  in  1830. 

The  construction  of  this  canal  was  a  great  enterprise  for 
that  day.  The  Commissioners  lent  the  weight  of  their  names 
to  support  the  project.  In  their  public  notice,  dated  July  i, 
1823.  of  the  times  and  places  of  receiving  subscriptions  to 
the  stock  of  the  company,  which  was  drawn,  no  doubt,  by  the 
chairman,  we  find  these  words : 

"We  have  had  little  experience  of  the  wonderful  facilities, 
which  this  kind  of  transportation  affords  -  -  but  so  far  as  it 
has  been  introduced  it  has  far  exceeded  the  most  sanguine 
expectations.  In  Europe,  Canals  are  now  extensively  used, 
yielding  immense  profits  to  the  proprietors,  and  of  vast 
utility  to  the  public.  Within  50  years  past  England  has 
become  so  chequered  by  them,  that  it  is  said  no  considerable 
place  is  more  than  15  miles  from  such  accommodation,  and 
no  stock  in  the  nation  is  found  to  be  generally  so  productive, 
and  yet  the  charge  of  transportation  in  them  is  from  10  to 
20  times  less  than  by  land  carriage. 

We  have  now  Engineers  equal  to  those  of  any  country  for 
this  object;  experienced  workmen,  who  can  construct  canals, 
as  well,  and  cheaper,  than  they  are  made  in  any  country  on 
Earth  -  -  and  no  section  of  our  country,  excepting  the  Erie 
Canal,  it  is  confidently  believed,  affords  so  many  facilities  and 
so  flattering  prospects,  as  the  route  now  contemplated. 

The  Commissioners  have  no  wish  to  deceive.  They  hope 
not  to  mislead.  They  know  they  address  an  intelligent  peo 
ple,  who  have  turned  their  attention  to  this  subject  -  -  have 
heard  of  the  extensive  use  of  canals  in  other  countries,  and 
many  of  them  have  seen  their  wonderful  progress  in  this. 
To  such  a  people,  with  means  in  their  hands,  and  such  flatter 
ing  prospects  of  advantage  to  the  public  and  profit  to  them 
selves  they  with  confidence  offer  the  Stock  of  the  proposed 
Canal/' 

Judge  Baldwin  was  warmly  interested  in  the  undertaking, 
and  inclined  to  be  sanguine  of  its  success.  "I  have  no  doubt/' 


3  7  8  Financial  Means  and  Positions 

he  had  written  to  one  of  his  sons,  in  the  preceding  May,  "of 
the  great  utility  of  the  object  -  -  &  as  little  of  our  ability  to 
accomplish  it,  if  the  means  could  be  drawn  from  the  right 


sources." 


The  work  of  construction  was  begun  in  1825  and  the  next 
year  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Hampshire  and  Hampden 
Canal  Company,  a  Massachusetts  corporation.  Judge  Bald 
win  advocated  this  measure  and  addressed  a  gathering  of 
the  promoters  at  Northampton  in  March,  1826,  in  its  support. 
The  consolidated  company  finished  the  canal  to  Westfield, 
Massachusetts,  in  1829. 

It  proved  hard  to  raise  the  necessary  funds.  In  1824,  the 
applicants  for  a  bank  charter  from  Connecticut  were 
required,  as  a  condition,  to  subscribe  for  $200,000  of  the 
capital  stock  of  the  Farmington  Canal  Co.  In  1829  the  city 
of  New  Haven  subscribed  $100,000.  All  the  stock  was 
extinguished  in  1836,  when  the  canal  became  the  property 
of  the  New  Haven  and  Northampton  Company,  a  corpora 
tion  chartered  to  acquire  it.  The  ultimate  loss  to  the  stock 
holders  and  creditors  of  the  two  original  companies  was  over 
a  million  dollars.  The  city  of  New  Haven,  in  1839,  sent  good 
money  after  bad,  by  lending  the  new  company  $20,000.  The 
original  vote  was  to  issue  $100,000  of  city  bonds,  secured  by 
a  mortgage  from  the  company;  and  a  loan  of  the  full 
amount  to  be  raised  on  them  was  contemplated,  should  it 
prove  necessary.  When  the  company,  however,  applied  for 
the  balance  of  $80,000,  it  was  voted,  at  a  city  meeting  held 
on  April  19,  1840,  not  to  issue  any  more  bonds  for  this  pur 
pose,  although  a  scheme  was  submitted  in  behalf  of  most  of 
the  other  stockholders,  devised  by  a  leading  lawyer,  Seth  P. 
Staples,  which  made  them  primarily  responsible  for  the  out 
standing  debts  and  current  expenses,  leaving  the  bonds  to  be 
fed  out  only  for  extraordinary  occasions. 


Financial  Means  and  Positions  379 

At  this  stage  in  the  proceedings,  Judge  Baldwin  wrote  a 
spirited  letter  to  the  editors  of  the  Daily  Herald  of  New 
Haven,  which  was  published  in  their  issue  of  May  5,  1840, 
and  read  thus : 

"Messrs.  Editors,  -  -  Were  any  person  to  request  you  to 
give  place  to  remarks  upon  matters  of  private  interest,  an 
apology  would  be  due  to  you  for  the  trespass  upon  your  time 
and  space;  but  there  is  perhaps  no  subject  to  us,  as  a  city, 
of  more  vital  importance  than  our  means  of  communication 
with  the  interior.  I  feel,  therefore,  sure  of  your  concur 
rence  in  giving  publicity  to  any  thing  which  you  may  think 
promotive  of  the  public  good,  even  if  the  subject  be  very 
familiar.  With  regard  to  the  Canal,  were  it  right  that  it 
should  go  to  decay,  I,  for  one,  should  be  glad  to  banish  it  from 
my  thoughts  and  from  my  tongue.  I  have  as  yet  met  with 
no  one  among  our  citizens  who  was  willing  to  own  himself 
so  much  of  a  disorganizer,  as  to  wish  the  Canal  destroyed; 
and  I  shall  take  it  for  granted,  in  what  I  may  now  say,  that 
there  is  no  citizen  of  New  Haven  so  suicidal  as  to  wish  ruin 
to  any  public  improvement.  We  may  differ  widely  as  to 
the  best  plan  to  be  pursued;  we  may  honestly,  and  with 
untiring  vigilance,  endeavor  to  guard  ourselves  against 
increased  burthens  of  taxation  or  of  debt;  but  it  is  neither 
manly  nor  patriotic  to  permit  the  heat  of  passion  or  personal 
jealousy  to  blind  our  judgment  in  matters  of  public  import. 
Let  this  matter  therefore  be  subjected  to  the  test  of  reason; 
let  those  of  us  who,  with  an  excitement  in  favor  of  the  Canal 
have  cried  'Support  it!'  or  those  who,  in  the  spirit  of  opposi 
tion  common  to  all  men,  have  cried  'Down  with  it!'  now  that 
it  is  down,  look  at  what  we  have  done,  and  see  if  it  is  well 
done ;  let  us  see  how  much  is  the  action  of  excitement  and  of 
jealousy,  and  how  much  of  the  cool  judgment  which  guides 
us  in  our  more  private  concerns. 

The  question  at  issue  seemed  to  be,  as  to  the  position  which, 
as  a  city,  we  ought  to  occupy  towards  the  Canal.  First,  let 
us  examine  the  proposition  which  was  INTENDED  to  be 
submitted  to  the  citizens  of  New  Haven  in  convention.  What 
was  it?  To  loan  the  credit  of  the  city  to  the  Canal?  No! 


380  Financial  Means  and  Positions 

To  issue  the  balance  of  the  bonds  contracted  to  be  issued? 
No:  far  from  this.  The  agents  of  the  Canal  had  THEN  no 
right  to  offer  insult  to  a  community  hitherto  deemed  high- 
minded  and  honorable,  by  asking  them  if  they  were  willing 
to  fulfil  a  contract  signed,  sealed  and  delivered  beyond  their 
jurisdiction !  Had  such  a  question  been  asked,  it  would  have 
been  the  duty  of  the  presiding  officer  to  have  told  the  gentle 
men  that  'when  they  could  approach  'The  City'  with  courtesy 
and  decency  they  should  be  heard,  and  not  till  then' ! 

The  position  of  the  city  then  was  simply  this :  it  had  become 
a  party  to  a  contract  -  -  had  accepted  from  the  other  con 
tracting  party  the  consideration  which  that  party  was  bound 
to  give,  and  therefore  stood  as  debtor,  not  as  creditor,  until 
the  whole  amount  of  bonds  should  be  issued.  At  this 
juncture,  while  the  city  occupied  a  position  in  no  view  envi 
able  -  -  a  position  which  it  should  never  have  assumed  - 
having  received  the  consideration  from  the  other  party  as 
valid  and  therefore  firmly  bound  to  issue  to  the  last  cent  the 
amount  of  bonds  -  -  at  this  juncture  an  opportunity  offers, 
or  rather  is  created  by  the  tact  and  skill  of  one  of  our  citizens, 
for  the  city  to  back  out  honorably,  or  to  go  forward  with  an 
assurance  of  success,  if  they  so  elected.  This  plan  was 
simple,  but  decisive  and  business  like  in  effect;  by  it  the  stock 
holders,  notwithstanding  all  they  had  lost,  were,  as  the  parties 
most  immediately  interested,  compelled  to  come  up  to  the 
rack;  to  relieve  the  city  from  its  imprudent  position,  if  such 
it  was,  and  place  it  where  it  should  be,  in  reserve,  instead  of 
in  advance;  as  collateral,  instead  of  principal.  This  plan 
was  carried  into  effect  so  far,  that  the  agents  of  the  Canal 
were  prepared  to  make  an  offer  to  the  city  which  should  have 
been  embraced  at  once,  and  the  acceptance  of  which  would, 
as  has  been  said,  have  left  it  optional  with  the  city  to  recede 
from  their  old  contract,  if  upon  investigation  such  a  course 
•seemed  best,  or  to  go  on,  if  it  should  appear  that  its  pledged 
co-operation  would  insure  profitable  returns. 

The  proposition  was,  that  an  examination  of  the  New 
Haven  and  Northampton  Canal  should  be  made  by  Engi 
neers  from  the  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  York 
Canals,  at  the  joint  expense  and  the  joint  control,  and  for  the 


Financial  Means  and  Positions  3  8 1 

joint  profit  and  loss  of  the  Stockholders  and  the  city;  the 
action  upon  the  result  of  this  examination  was  to  be  agreed 
upon  between  the  Stockholders  and  the  city;  if  satisfactory 
to  both  parties  then,  and  not  till  then,  was  the  city  to  issue  its 
already  pledged  bonds  upon  fjusf  terms;  this  was  to  be 
no  party  examination,  the  engineers  were  to  be  men  wholly 
unconnected  with  the  Canal,  disinterested  and  unbiassed, 
and  as  upon  their  report  and  upon  a  statistical  examination 
to  be  made  in  connection  therewith,  would  depend  the  action 
of  their  principals,  so  they  would  leave  their  professional 
reputation  in  pledge  for  the  accuracy  of  that  report,  be  it 
what  it  might;  the  parties  most  interested  in  the  Canal  both 
by  reputation  and  investment  desired  and  challenged  such  a 
survey. 

Now,  Messrs.  Editors,  let  our  citizens  look  at  the  affair  in 
this  posture,  and  decide  each  one  for  himself  if  this  was  an 
opportunity  lightly  to  be  neglected.  The  offer  was  fair  and 
courteous  in  its  terms  on  the  part  of  the  agents  of  the  Canal ; 
it  was  soundly  advantageous  and  gainful  to  the  city,  situated 
as  it  was  —  it  was  simple  equity  to  all  parties ;  as  such  it  was 
received  by  the  committee  on  the  part  of  the  city  -  -  as  such, 
it  was  to  have  been  submitted  to  the  citizens  and  pressed  upon 
them  in  the  only  way  permitted  to  that  committee,  or  to  the 
stockholders ;  those  who  were  present  will  remember,  that  as 
soon  as  the  object  for  which  the  citizens  were  concerned  was 
announced  by  the  Mayor,  that  a  series  of  rescinding  motions 
were  offered  and  advocated  at  great  length ;  and  immediately 
after  the  vote  was  taken,  there  was  a  general  cry,  'adjourn/ 
'adjourn/  as  if  it  was  feared  that  some  other  proposition 
would  be  submitted  to  the  meeting.  I  mean  not  to  question 
their  motives,  but  I  wish  to  ask  these  gentlemen,  now  that 
the  flush  of  excitement  is  over,  to  re-view  the  matter  coolly 
-  let  us  divest  ourselves  of  any  prejudices  which  may  exist 
in  our  own  minds  with  regard  to  the  Canal  -  -  cast  aside  the 
personal  associations  connected  more  or  less  with  it  -  -  let  us 
forget  our  past  pecuniary  sacrifices  and  all  unpleasant  reflec 
tions. 

Look  at  the  Canal  simply  as  a  stream  of  water  emptying 
into  our  harbor,  and  navigable  from  this  to  Northampton; 


382  Financial  Means  and  Positions 

a  safe  inland  navigation  -  -  no  shipwreck,  no  insurance,  no 
monopoly  —  but  a  public  thoroughfare  as  free  to  every  man's 
boat  as  the  turnpike  to  his  cart.  It  is  offered  to  us  for 
nothing!  Whatever  the  Canal  may  have  cost  in  times  past 
has  nothing  to  do  with  the  question  -  -  is  entirely  irrelevant. 
We  have  boasted  that  we  have  killed  the  Canal;  —  that  it 
was  'dead  as  Julius  Caesar'  -  -  and  therefore  it  is  dead  with 
all  its  sins.  The  canal  we  now  have  is  plainly  and  incon- 
trovertibly  a  new  canal.  -  The  only  question  therefore  is, 
shall  we  have  a  canal  for  nothing,  or  shall  we  not?  The 
proposition  which  was  before  us  came  from  capitalists,  who, 
had  they  decided,  after  their  examination  had  been  made, 
to  enlist  in  this  project,  could  have  given,  and  would  have 
given  a  guaranty  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred,  or  two  hun 
dred,  or  three  hundred,  or  four  hundred,  or  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  that  this  same  New  Haven  and  North- 
hampton  Canal  that  then  was,  should  be  sustained.  They 
are  perfectly  able  to  give  such  a  guaranty,  and  such  an  one 
too,  as  by  the  board  of  directors  of  any  bank  of  this  city,  or 
in  New  York,  would  be  pronounced  good. 

And  now,  gentlemen,  these  are  the  facts.  Is  there  any 
humbug  in  it?  Is  it  rational  to  suppose  that  these  capitalists 
are  going  to  make  themselves  liable  to  an  unlimited  amount, 
for  the  sake  of  gulling  us  out  of  our  eighty  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  unissued  bonds?  Have  we,  with  a  most  narrow 
minded,  a  most  inane  jealousy,  in  our  fear  lest  somebody  else 
might  make  some  money  by  being  hewers  of  wood  and  draw 
ers  of  water  for  us,  have  we,  or  have  we  not,  like  the  dog  and 
his  shadow,  lost  the  substance  and  the  shadow  too?  Have 
we  not,  in  a  moment  of  excitement,  betrayed  our  own  trust 
by  flouting  the  offer  extended  to  us?  Have  we  not  done 
foul  wrong  to  the  city  in  which  we  dwell,  by  thus  nullifying 
its  contracts,  thus  repudiating  its  credit,  in  intention  and  by 
resolution?  At  a  period  like  the  present,  when  the  business 
of  our  city  is  prostrate,  our  work  shops  closed  and  silent  — 
ought  we  not  to  keep  open  every  avenue  which  promises  an 
influx  of  wealth  to  us,  and  especially  to  treat  with  courtesy, 
and  to  foster  to  the  utmost  every  prospect  of  the  investment 
of  foreign  capital  among  us.  Perhaps  even  yet  we  may 


Financial  Means  and  Positions  383 

induce  that  investment,  and  then,  instead  of  a  noisome  ditch, 
as  a  reeking  memento  of  our  folly,  we  may  have  a  prosperous 
and  independent  canal,  giving  to  us,  at  no  further  cost  to 
ourselves,  a  rich  return  even  for  the  past. 

S.  B." 

Another  city  meeting  was  held  on  June  gth  to  consider  the 
matter  further,  and  it  was  then  voted  to  pay  the  company 
$3,000  a  year  for  thirty  years  for  the  use  of  the  water  in  the 
canal;  to  cancel  its  mortgage;  and  to  give  the  company  its 
loan  of  $20,000.  Judge  Baldwin's  letter  was  well  calculated 
to  smooth  the  way  to  some  such  compromise. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
SELECTIONS  FROM  CORRESPONDENCE  FROM  1786  TO  1846 

Lord  Bacon  says  that  letters,  particularly  if  there  is  a  long 
series  of  them,  furnish  a  better  opportunity  to  become  inti 
mately  acquainted  with  the  spirit  of  past  times  than  history 
or  biography.1 

Judge  Baldwin,  especially  in  his  younger  days,  had  an 
unusual  number  of  regular  and  familiar  correspondents. 
Among  them  were  Chancellor  Kent,  Chief  Justice  Daggett, 
Senator  James  Hillhouse,  Elizur  Goodrich,  and  other  men 
of  mark.  One  of  the  latter,  to  whom  the  first  of  the  letters 
which  follow  was  addressed,  was  Ebenezer  Baldwin's  step 
son,  already  mentioned,  Rev.  Charles  Backus,  D.D.,  of 
Somers,  Connecticut,  a  scholarly  minister,  who  in  1796 
declined  the  chair  of  Divinity  at  Yale. 

The  letters  which  have  been  selected  for  publication,  in 
whole  or  part  in  this  chapter,  are  in  the  main  arranged 
chronologically. 

On  August  4,  1786,  at  Dr.  Backus'  request,  Mr.  Baldwin 
wrote  to  him  his  views  on  the  general  nature  of  American 
government. 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Charles  Backus : 

"The  objects  for  which  Society  exists  are  sum 
marily  the  protection  of  Life,  Liberty  &  Property  -  The 
Constitution  therefore  is  equally  faulty  if  by  depriving  Indi 
viduals  of  more  Liberty  than  is  necessary,  it  accumulates  the 
power  in  the  hands  of  the  officers  of  society,  so  much  as  to 
endanger  the  Liberty  that  was  reserved  or  if  the  power  that 
was  put  into  their  hands  is  not  sufficient  for  the  protection  of 
what  was  reserved. 

1  De  Augmentis  Scientiarum,  VIII,  2,  Parabola  xxxiv. 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

The  latter  appears  to  me  to  be  the  great  fault  of  our  Fed 
eral  Constitution  -  In  the  formation  of  that  union  each 
State  stood  in  the  relation  of  an  Individual  about  to  form  a 
Society  for  the  protection  of  Liberty  &  for  Security.  -  as 
much  power  therefore  according  to  the  former  observations 
must  be  given  up  as  will  secure  &  perpetuate  the  Union  & 
answer  the  object  of  it  -  -  the  object  of  this  is  the  support  of 
a  Federal  Government  -  -  the  protection  of  the  Union  as  a 
Nation,  its  defence  &  Dignity.  -  -  to  do  all  this  Wisdom  & 
money  are  necessary  -  -  the  first  our  Congress  doubtless 
have  -  -  in  the  latter  they  are  deficient  -  -  &  have  no  power  to 
become  otherwise  —  for  however  sacred  we  might  view  a 
recommendation  from  that  political  Body  in  the  Light  of  our 
Zeal  &  Patriotism,  it  is  not  sufficient  to  bind  many  Individuals 
when  it  crosses  their  Interest  in  their  more  dispassionate 
Moments,  this  then  is  a  material  fault  in  our  federal  Con 
stitution  The  Congress  of  the  U.  S.  respectable  for  their 
patriotism  their  Wisdom  &  skill  in  policy,  are  almost  con 
temptible  for  want  of  power  -  They  are  but  little  more 
than  Cyphers  -  The  Consequence  has  been,  a  sacrifice  of 
National  Faith  &  National  Honour  to  an  overstrained  Zeal 
for  Liberty  &  Love  of  the  purse  -  the  consequence  will  be  a 
growing  Contempt  for  the  Imbecility  of  Congress  both  at 
home  &  abroad  --  the  consequence  of  this  must  be  a  disaffec 
tion  &  Jealosy  among  the  States  &  insults  from  foreign 
powers  -  -  that  will  naturally  lead  to  Confusion  &  War  or 
from  necessity  an  increase  of  the  power  of  Congress  -  May 
Heaven  induce  us  to  the  Latter,  we  certainly  can  never  have 
energy  as  a  Nation  until  the  powers  are  enlarged  -  even  in 
theory  that  part  of  our  Constitution  is  deficient  -  If  we 
were  as  virtuous  as  Angels  we  should  have  but  little  need  of 
the  restrictive  Laws  of  Society,  or  had  we  magistrates  equally 
virtuous  too  much  power  could  not  be  given  them  -  as  we 
are,  Society  must  be  guarded  on  both  sides  -  -  Magistrates 
should  neither  be  totally  deficient  in  power  —  nor  should  they 
be  omnipotent, 'so  that  even  in  Theory  a  consti(tu)tion  may 
enlarge  the  Liberties  of  the  people  too  much.  - 

The  same  observations  will  not  apply  to  the  Constitutions 
of  the  individual  States  -  -  they  were  in  general  formed  with 

13 


386          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

much  wisdom  -  -  they  have  well  guarded  the  liberties  of  the 
people,  &  at  the  same  time  have  given  sufficient  strength  to 
the  Arm  of  Power  -  In  this  State  our  practice  is  of  this 
Nature  tho  I  much  Question  whether  we  have  in  Strict  pro 
priety  of  speech  any  Constitution  at  all 

Upon  the  whole  it  appears  to  me  that  we  are  more  unhappy 
as  a  Nation,  than  as  individual  States  -  -  to  be  sure  in  this 
State  we  have  lattely  felt  but  few  of  those  evils  which  arise 
from  maladministration  or  anarchy  &  the  unhappy  state  & 
Confusion  of  Rhode  Island  will  undoubtedly  be  a  blessing  to 
their  Neighbours  —  but  it  is  wounding  to  the  benevolent  Man 
that  Society  should  be  taught  so  salutary  a  Lesson  —  so  much 
at  the  expence  of  many  virtuous  Characters  -  I  much  fear 
that  as  a  Nation  we  shall  see  worse  Days  before  we  have 
better  we  must  actually  feel  as  well  as  contemplate  those  evils 
before  we  shall  be  induced  to  redress  them." 

On  January  8,  1787,  he  writes  to  Dr.  Backus,  with  whom 
he  had  recently  conversed  as  to  the  prospects  of  the  United 
States,  his  views  as  to  Shays'  Rebellion. 

"Since  the  Commotions  in  Massachusetts  I  have  thought 
much  upon  that  Conversation  &  upon  my  word  I  was  almost 
converted  to  the  fetal  necessity  of  Monarchy  -  -  Yet  I  will 
candidly  confess  I  again  waver  in  my  faith  -  -  the  early 
prejudices  of  a  Republican  I  cannot  easily  eradicate  &  the 
Circumstances  of  that  State  do  not  appear  so  gloomy  as  they 
did.  the  Disaffection  to  Government  even  there  does  not 
appear  to  be  general  as  I  at  first  was  fearful  it  would  be, 
their  numbers  are  now  nearly  known  they  are  not  great  nor 
does  it  appear  that  they  have  either  System  or  Systematical 
persons  at  their  Head.  Their  real  grievances  are  but  few  & 
such  as  can  easily  &  doubtless  will  soon  be  redressed  -  Our 
accounts  are  that  they  are  diminishing  in  number  &  spirit  — 
Government  I  must  think  will  be  able  to  quell  the  insurrection 
&  if  they  do  it  effectuallv,  they  will  certainly  gain  by  the 
Struggle." 

Dr.  Backus  writes  to  him  on  February  5,  1787: 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         387 

"On  the  whole,  I  join  with  you  in  opinion,  that  the  United 
States  of  America  will  not  take  a  leap  into  monarchy,  without 
passing  through  the  ordinary  gradations  from  a  popular  to 
a  kingly  government.  But  whether  many  years  will  roll 
away,  before  we  shall  have  a  Monarch  appears  doubtful. 

That  equal  distribution  of  property,  which  is  so  essential 
to  a  Republic,  is  confined  to  a  few  of  the  Northern  States, 
and  can  never  be  extended  to  the  other  States  now  in  the 
union.  Neither  are  we  to  look  for  the  New  England  equality 
in  the  States  which  will  soon  be  settled.  The  genius  of  a 
large  proportion  of  the  first  adventurers,  the  climate  in  which 
many  of  them  be,  and  the  example  of  old  States  in  their 
neighbourhood,  will  prevent  the  existence  of  the  golden  age, 
which  our  Fathers  saw;  either  in  equality  of  interest,  or 
simplicity  of  manners 

It  is  also  to  be  considered,  that  we  are  much  more  deeply 
plunged  in  luxury  in  the  United  States,  than  England  was  in 
the  days  of  John;  and  fall  but  a  little  behind  our  English 
ancestors  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  first.  In  the  Oliverian 
times  which  soon  followed,  the  people  discovered  that  they 
had  not  enough  of  the  Swiss  in  them,  to  endure  any  other  kind 
of  government  than  monarchy.  It  is  indeed  to  be  acknowl 
edged  that  Cromwell's  tyrannic  disposition,  &  want  of  polit 
ical  system,  paved  the  way  for  Charles  the  second  to  sit  on 
the  throne  of  his  Father ;  but  besides  this,  it  is  apparent  that 
pomp  and  high  life  had  too  long  been  realized,  to  admit  of 
Republican  government. 

The  extent  of  the  United  States  is  very  large :  no  State  or 
Kingdom  in  Europe  hath  so  large  limits  except  Russia. 
Government  must  have  energy  sufficient  to  reach  from  the 
seat  of  it  to  the  extremities,  in  a  short  time,  or  it  cannot  exist. 
Republican  government  is  slow  in  its  execution,  and  therefore 
cannot  long  continue  in  a  large  country.  The  case  of  the 
Roman  republic  will  not  apply  to  the  united  states,  for  several 
reasons:  one  is,  that  our  manners  are  not  so  simple,  &  our 
mode  of  living  is  not  so  frugal,  as  theirs  were,  when  their 
republic  was  in  its  full  vigour.  Another  reason  is,  that 
though  a  final  appeal  to  the  people  was  admitted,  yet  the 
Senate  &  the  Congress,  formed  in  fact,  a  more  powerful 


388          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

barrier  against  popular  abuses,  than  any  where  exists  in  our 
foederal  government.  Add  to  this,  in  the  Roman  common 
wealth,  a  Dictator  was  appointed  in  extraordinary  cases,  who 
for  the  time  being,  possessed  absolute  and  unlimited  power. 

I  have  another  objection  to  urge  against  the  remoteness  of 
monarchy  in  this  country,  which  perhaps  may  seem  fanciful : 
We  Americans  are  Englishmen  in  our  temper.  We  are 
unsteady,  pensive,  restless  and  enterprizing.  We  are 
cowards  and  heroes  alternately:  we  are  independent  in  our 
manner  of  thinking,  and  have  a  very  strong  thirst  for  inde 
pendence  in  our  fortunes.  Hence  it  seems  necessary  that  we 
should  have  a  kind  of  government,  which  like  the  jarring 
elements  should  check  and  controul  its  several  powers ;  or  in 
other  words,  we  must  realize  a  King,  house  of  Lords,  and 
Commons.  Whoever  surveys  the  several  institutions  of  the 
thirteen  States,  will  observe  a  parva  imago  of  the  British 
institution.  This  likeness  is  not  wholly  derived  from  the 
prejudices  of  education.  Why  does  the  British  constitution 
differ  from  others  which  sprang  from  the  common  European 
source,  the  Gothic  customs?  The  answer  to  this  question, 
must  rather  be  sought  for  in  philosophy,  than  in  the  state  of 
private  fortunes,  or  conquest. 

In  our  feelings  we  are  at  a  small  remove  from  a  state  of 
nature:  and  hence  if  a  nominal  Republic  is  to  exist  in 
America,  an  amendment  of  our  foederal  constitution  must 
be  near.  The  sad  effects  which  we  now  feel  from  the  want 
of  an  energetic  government,  will  prompt  to  make  a  large 
cession  of  power  to  Congress.  This  will  greatly  accelerate 
an  Aristocracy.  Monarchy  will  be  quick  in  succession,  if  I 
am  not  a  stranger  to  our  national  genius. 

Moreover  the  popular  clamour  is  loud,  that  "Republican 
government  is  expensive."  Ambitious  men  will  catch  at  this, 
and  make  it  subservient  to  an  aristocratical  government.  Let 
the  Legislative  authority  be  shifted  into  the  hands  of  a  few, 
and  we  shall  soon  realize  the  domination  of  a  club:  but  we 
shall  not  like  Dutchmen  wear  the  yoke  long ;  but  shall  follow 
the  example  of  the  kingdom,  from  which  we  emigrated. 

The  example  of  Massachusetts  will  always  have  great 
influence  upon  the  other  N.  England  States.  It  is  the  opinion 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          389 

of  many  Gentlemen  of  discernment  in  that  commonwealth, 
that  their  constitution  is  too  liberal  for  the  minds  of  the  bulk 
of  the  people,  and  that  representation  by  large  districts  must 
take  place.  There  is  great  probability  that  the  alteration,  will 
be  made,  when  the  constitution  shall  be  revised  in  1795.  This 
alteration  will  be  favourable  to  Aristocracy,  &  in  its  effects 
to  monarchy. 

I  earnestly  wish  for  the  continuance  of  Republican  govern 
ment,  if  it  can  be  realized  -  -  I  esteem  it  the  best  on  earth,  in 
theory  -  -  I  have  the  highest  veneration  for  the  liberties  of 
mankind;  but  dire  necessity  must  controul  the  fine  specula 
tions  of  the  closet.  I  fear  that  American  patriots  will  have 
the  painful  conviction  that  "this  world  was  made  for  Caesar." 

I  submit  these  remarks  to  your  free  and  candid  discussion, 
&  remain 

Your  affectionate  Friend, 
&  humble  Servant 

C.  Backus. 
Simeon  Baldwin  Esqr. 

P.  S.  You  have  had,  no  doubt,  a  more  particular  account 
of  the  present  Insurrection  in  Massachusetts,  than  I  am  able 
to  give  you.  It  will  soon  be  quelled  by  the  blessing  of  provi 
dence.  The  evils  of  civil  discord  exceed  what  imagination 
can  paint.  When  the  troubles  were  at  their  heighth,  I  was 
instructing  in  Cicero's  Orations  against  Cataline  -  I  never 
before  had  my  attention  so  perfectly  arrested  by  the  Roman 
orator  - 

The  Insurgents  have  notwithstanding  the  art  of  their 
Leaders  got  the  knowledge  of  Lincoln's  manifesto,  and  the 
privates  are  coming  in  daily,  &  taking  the  benefit  of  the 
pardon.  The  firing  of  a  few  guns  in  anger  at  Springfield, 
hath  had  a  wonderful  effect  -  Connecticut  will  be  freed 
from  the  trouble  of  crushing  Insurgents  at  the  present  time 
The  United  States  will  never  in  future,  live  without  a 
standing  army  -  We  had  better  be  burdened  with  this; 
than  with  three  million  Tyrants  - 

C.  Backus." 


39°          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  of  Dr.  Backus  to  Mr. 
Baldwin,  dated  June  29,  1787,  shows  how  men's  eyes  were 
then  turned  toward  the  Constitutional  Convention  at 
Philadelphia : 

"I  fear  that  a  bloody  revolution  is  not  far  distant  -  A 
long  continuance  in  our  present  political  state  is  impossible  - 
The  federal  convention  is  the  dernier  resort  of  our  present 
constitution.  I  doubt  not,  but  the  venerable  patriots  who  are 
now  sitting  at  Philadelphia  will  deliverate  &  advise  well: 
But  whether  the  several  states  will  adopt  their  recommenda 
tions,  is  not  very  certain.  Nothing  will  effectually  influence 
but  fear  -  At  present,  there  is  no  object  of  sufficient 
magnitude  in  the  view  of  community  at  large  to  impel  them 
to  a  common  centre.  To  entrust  the  resolves  of  the  con 
vention  with  the  option  of  all  the  small  bodies  who  acted 
upon  the  articles  of  confederation,  will  not  be  safe.  Should 
the  several  Legislatures  adopt  the  proposed  alterations,  the 
danger  is  great  of  a  violent  struggle,  under  the  patronage 
of  a  selfish,  popular  minority  in  the  respective  Assemblies 
But  should  the  Legislatures,  with  only  the  exception  of  Rhode 
Island,  adopt  the  doings  of  the  Convention,  there  is  reason 
to  hope  for  better  times,  even  in  our  day.  What  will  be  our 
condition,  if  our  present  dissentions  are  not  healed,  is  known 
only  to  Him  who  allots  the  fate  of  nations  -  Probably, 
civil  war  must  exist  for  a  time,  &  our  mode  of  government 
must  be  shifted. 

You  must  have  heard  that  the  present  general  court  of 
Massachusetts,  have  repealed  the  disqualifying  act  -  and 
that  they  are  in  several  other  things,  retarding  the  steps  of 
the  last  year's  administration.  The  friends  of  the  latter  are 
hanging  their  harps  upon  the  willows.  -  The  disqualifying 
act  was  probably  impolitic,  considering  the  Republican  age 
of  America.  How  far  it  may  be  prudent  for  the  general 
court  to  relax,  is  impossible  for  me  to  determine  -  The 
neighbouring  States  give  too  much  countenance  to  the  insur 
rection  in  that  Commonwealth,  for  their  authority  to  strike 
a  very  capital  blow  to  the  Mobility.  I  choose  to  err  on  the 
side  of  Charity,  rather  than  indulge  an  injurious  reflexion 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          391 

on  the  supreme  Executive,  or  the  Legislative  Authority  of 
that  State.  -  At  any  rate,  suspensions  of  energy  in  gov 
ernment,  can  last  but  little  longer  in  any  of  the  Republics  in 
the  Union.  It  hath  often  occurred  to  me  that  unless  we  take 
a  sudden  change  from  vice  to  virtue,  the  Supreme  Executive 
of  the  Country,  must  not  depend  on  popular  Elections. 

I  cannot  bring  my  feelings  even  to  speculate  on  the  ill 
consequences  of  a  division  of  the  United  States  into  two 
Republics." 

Mr.  Baldwin,  before  settling  permanently  in  Connecticut, 
made  careful  inquiries  into  the  conditions  of  legal  practice 
in  other  States.  One  answer  to  such  a  question  came  from  a 
College  friend  in  Hillsborough,  who  wrote  thus  in  February, 
1786,  as  to  the  bar  and  bench  of  South  Carolina: 

"The  mode  of  procedure  differs  only  in  a  few  particulars 
from  that  in  Connecticut;  but  the  regulation  of  the  Courts, 
ye  Justices,  and  Lawyers,  are  quite  of  a  different  complexion 

-  The  general  Court  consists  of  three  very  able  characters, 
in  whom  is  the  last  decision  of  cases  of  Law  &  Equity  in 
the  State.      Those  who  are  admited  to  plead  before  this 
bar  are  in  general  enabled  to  acquire  property  very  rapidly; 
and  indeed  there  are  many  very  able  Superior  Court  Lawyers 

•  The  practice  of  the  County  Sessions  is  likewise  lucrative 
but  very  disagreeable,  &  to  which  a  man  educated  to  the 
modes  of  breeding  and  decency  will  not  subject  himself  long 

The  Lawyers  are  of  the  smaller  kind;  have  no  notion 
of  any  system  of  Law,  but  are  acquainted  only  with  a  little 
practical  knowledge  they  have  picked  up  mostly  in  the  Courts : 
and  are  generally  some  of  the  most  finished  blackguards  - 
You  will  naturally  suppose  that  the  Judges  do  not  differ  much 
in  description  -  Every  Justice  of  the  peace  has  a  right  to 
sit  upon  the  bench  of  his  own  County;  many  of  them  are 
very  dissolute  characters,  &  for  a  very  plain  reason  those 
are  the  persons  who  generally  preside  -  Upon  the  whole 
a  Lawyer  whose  only  object  is  to  acquire  property  will  do 
well  to  come  into  Carolina." 


392          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

On  May  9,  1787,  James  Kent  writes: 

"Your  Letters  are  too  full  of  Instruction  &  friendship  & 
I  am  too  sincere  in  my  esteem  &  Attachment  to  your  Char 
acter  not  to  support  the  Correspondence  with  the  utmost 
attention  -  I  never  expect  from  this  time  hereafter  to 
form  a  new  Connection  which  will  be  by  any  means  as 
durable,  as  generous  &  as  ardent  as  the  one  which  I  have 
long  since  formed  with  you  -  The  Habits  of  early  Life  are 
peculiarly  adapted  according  to  a  well  known  Remark  to 
receive  the  lively  Impressions  of  Affection;  &  when  those 
Impressions  have  been  strengthened  by  time  &  matured  by 
Reflection  they  can  never  afterwards  be  erased  without  some 
surprising  contingency  or  some  deep  defect  in  the  moral 
Character/' 

On  March  8,  1788,  Mr.  Baldwin  writes  to  Mr.  Kent: 

"A  greater  uniformity  in  Laws  will  probably  follow  the 
adoption  of  the  proposed  Constitution.  I  have  not  heard 
your  Sentiments  upon  that  subject  &  I  know  that  the  State 
of  New  York  is  much  divided  upon  it.  But  Til  venter  to 
write  to  you  as  a  friend  to  it  —  for  I  cannot  think  that  a 
man  of  your  candour  &  discernment  -  -  unbiased  by  Interest 

-  can  stand  forth,  &  wield  the  weapons  of  Anarchy  - 
against  the  Salvation  of  our  Country  —  who  are  they  in 
general  who  oppose  the  Constitution  ?  —  none  but  the  unin 
formed  or  the  interested  -  I  have  frequently  been  diverted 
to  hear  the  very  trifling  &  yet  very  different  objections  which 
are  made  to  it  by  different  peasants  of  this  State  -  -  for  you 
know  that  in  this  State  the  farmers  are  all  politicians  - 
many  will  condemn  the  same  Articles  which  others  with  zeal 
recommend,  none  of  them  agree  in  their  objections  --  even 
this  Circumstance  must  convinced  an  unbiassed  mind  that 
the  wisdom  of  that  venerable  Body  who  formed  the  consti 
tution  has  led  them  thro'  that  central  point  of  Gravity  whh 
must  support  the  interest  of  all  — 

The  conduct  of  New  Hampshire  has  surprized  us  all  this 
way  —  we  did  not  expect  it  —  but  had  ever  calculated  upon 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          393 

that  State  as  sure  —  our  fears  were  centered  upon  New  York 

-  we  are  sensible  that  more  self-interest  must  be  sacrificed  to 
the  general  good  in  that  State  -  -  from  their  darling  impost 

-  than  in  any  other  -       Yet  as  there  is  a  pretty  equal  con 
sumption  thro'  the  States  of  Articles  subject  to  impost  - 
Justice  will  certainly  require  that  the  avails  should  go  to  the 
advantage  of  those  from  whom  the  Impost  is  collected  - 
let  the  Ports  at  which  they  are  landed  &  from  whence  they 
are  scattered  be  one  or  many  -       I  wish  for  your  sentiments 
upon  the  Constitution  &  the  prospect  of  its  adoption  in  the 
State  -       Many  of  your  influential  Characters  we  are  told 
are  against  it  -        I  must  believe  that  the  Supreme  being, 
whose  hand  is  so  visible  in  the  settlement  of  this  Country  - 
in  its  rapid  population  -  -  the  extent  of  territory  over  which 
the  People  have  spread  -  -  in  the  general  diffusion  of  knowl 
edge  among  them,  which  is  not  equalled  by  the  people  of  any 
territory  on  earth  -  -  &  in  the  surprising  union  of  the  whole 
in  the  Cause  of  Liberty  -  -  has  designed  something  great, 
noble,  glorious  from  such  a  Country  --  such  a  people  --such 
a  revolution  -  -  and  I  will  add  from  such  a  change  in  the 
Constitution  as  the  United  Wisdom  of  the  U.  S.  has  pro 
posed,  from  the  most  perfect  models  of  Govfc  both  in  Theory 
&  practice  which  have  appeared  on  earth  &  been  sanctioned 
by  the  approbation  of  the  wise  politicians  who  have  gone 
before  us  - 

This  State  is  at  present  very  quiet  in  its  politics  -  -  the 
federal  party  have  evidently  obtained  the  superiority,  &  both 
sides  seem  quietly  disposed  to  lay  down  their  Arms  -  but 
it  has  not  ever  been  a  Circumstance  in  the  politics  of  this 
State  that  those  who  are  concerned  in  them  remain  long  in 
a  State  of  apathy.  The  leading  Characters  among  our  anti- 
federalists  are  in  general  willful  &  Dogmatical  -  -  no  Speak 
ers  are  found  among  them  -  all  their  influence  is  by  a  low 
clandestine  intrigue  Our  Leaders  in  the  federal  Party  are 
the  Leaders  in  the  House  of  Assembly  -  -  men  who  despise 
secrecy  in  their  sentiments  &  attempt  more  by  solid  Reason 
&  an  overbearing  Eloquence,  than  by  intreague  -  Their 
foible  is  they  do  not  try  to  reconcile,  but  frequently  irritate 
by  sarcastic  reflections. 


394          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

The  situation  of  this  State  as  it  respects  their  property, 
is  far  from  being  flourishing  —  we  seem  to  have  arrived 
to  the  turning  point,  between  a  Commerce  in  wh  the  balance 
has  long  been  against  us,  &  the  introduction  of  manufactures 
among  ourselves  whh  will  supersede  the  Necessity  of  such  a 
Commerce  -  The  fact  is  we  have  too  many  inhabitants  for 
the  extent  of  territory  -  -  considering  our  mode  of  Cultiva 
tion  &  the  employments  of  the  people  -  All  have  not  farms 
nor  can  they  obtain  them  -  -  of  course  untill  manufactures 
are  introduced,  the  people  must  be  idle,  or  crowd  into  those 
professions  which  do  not  immediately  depend  on  the  soil  - 
The  people  thus  employed,  consume  the  produce  of  the 
farmer  -  -  till  nothing  is  left  for  a  remittence  for  those 
articles  which  our  stage  of  Society  has  to  a  Degree  rendered 
necessary  -  Some  attempts  were  made  in  this  Town  the 
last  year  for  the  introduction  of  a  linnen  manufactory,  that 
is  coarse  linnen  -  -  for  Sails  &c.  which  succeeded  so  as  to 
yield  a  profit  to  the  subscribers  far  beyond  their  expectation 

-  the  same  is  continued  &  another  subscription  for  a  Wollen 
manufac(tory)  is  filling  up  fast  -  The  introduction  of  a 
few  such  manufactures  by  men  of  fortune  &  enterprize  will 
doubtless  opperate  to  the  advantage  of  the  State  -  we  can 
never  expect  to  be  in  so  flourishing  circumstances  as  the  State 
of  New  York  -  -  their  situation  gives  them  a  superiority 
which  industry  canno  equal  --  &  I  must  think  that  the  Policy 
of  that  State  as  it  respects  their  finance  is  managed  with 
admirable  foresight  -  &  the  circumstances  of  the  Citizens 
are  very  different  from  ours  -  I  rejoice  my  friend  that 
you  are  placed  among  them  -  -  that  you  are  sharing  in  its 
riches  &  can  toil  with  the  prospect  of  reaping  a  reward  for 
your  Labour." 

In  1789,  the  Federalists  in  New  York  made  a  strong  but 
unsuccessful  effort  to  prevent  the  reelection  as  Governor  of 
George  Clinton,  who  was  the  founder  of  the  Democratic  party 
in  the  United  States. 

James  Kent  writes  Mr.  Baldwin,  on  March  22,  1789,  thus: 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          395 

"We  are  very  much  agitated  in  this  Country  with  our 
approaching  triennial  election  for  Governor  -  -  A  new  can 
didate  is  proposed  in  opposition  to  Clinton  -  It  is  Judge 
Yates  one  of  the  Judges  of  our  Supreme  Court  &  altho  he 
has  been  decidedly  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution  yet  he  is 
considered  upon  the  whole  as  a  much  more  virtuous,  more 
independent  &  more  advisable  man  for  our  Chief  Magistrate 
than  the  other.  I  am  one  of  that  part  of  the  Community 
who  are  in  favor  of  the  Change  .&  I  have  some  Hopes  of 
Success." 

On  November  22,  1786,  Enoch  Perkins  writes  to  Mr. 
Baldwin : 

"The  debates  of  our  sage  Legislators  I  have  read.  They 
do  not  contain  the  whole  of  political  wisdom,  nor  all  the 
force  of  Eloquence.  We  have  therefore  this  comforting 
thought,  that,  wisdom  and  Eloquence  not  being  entirely  worn 
out  &  confirmed,  some  of  these  useful  articles  may  fall  to 
the  Lot  of  succeeding  Legislators.  The  federal  men  have 
the  advantage  in  these  debates;  for  in  the  first  place,  they 
have  the  most  sense,  and  can  speak  best ;  and,  in  the  second 
place,  They  report,  can  do  themselves  justice,  &  can  take 
care  not  to  do  the  opposite  party  more  than  justice. 

I  cannot  fully  agree  with  you  in  your  censures  of  the 
Anarchiad.2  The  characters  there  ridiculed,  are  acting  a 
part  that  is  unreasonable,  dishonest,  and  injurious  to  the  pub 
lic;  They  are  likewise  ridiculous  objects.  If  the  shafts  of 
ridicule  are  aimed  at  such  persons,  if  they  hit  &  pierce  deep, 
I  have  not  the  heart  to  pity ;  because  I  think  they  deserve  the 
pain  they  feel." 

Mr.  Perkins,  soon  after  settling  in  Hartford,  wrote  Mr. 
Baldwin  a  description  of  the  bar  and  bench,  in  the  following 
letter,  of  December  8,  1786,  forwarded  by  the  hand  of  Judge 
Sherman : 

2  A  poem  then  recently  published  on  American  politics,  by  John 
Trumbull,  Col.  Humphreys,  Joel  Barlow  and  Dr.  Lemuel  Hopkins. 


396          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

"Since  my  residence  here,  the  Courts  have  been  sitting  a 
great  part  of  the  time,  and  my  attention  has  been  very  much 
taken  up  with  them.  So  much  of  our  Law  remains  in  the 
breasts  of  our  venerable  Judges,  that  it  is  very  necessary 
for  a  young  Lawyer  to  pay  attention  to  their  decisions. 
Otherwise  let  his  Book  learning  be  what  it  may,  he  will  make 
but  an  awkward  hand  at  applying  it.  As  to  assistance  from 
my  Brethren,  I  do  not  feel  quite  so  much  freedom  in  asking 
it,  as  I  should  at  New-Haven;  because  I  have  not  so  much 
acquaintance  with  them.  And  upon  the  whole,  I  choose  to 
feel  pretty  independent.  C.  C.3  attended  Court  here  last 
week,  and  returned,  I  suspect,  with  some  mortification;  as 
he  had  not  an  opportunity  of  arguing  any  cause  in  Court: 
Edwards4  has  had  several  causes.  Some  of  our  Attornies 
here,  I  suppose  you  have  heard,  and  some  not.  Root5  has  a 
good  command  of  Language,  and  does  well;  but  he  wants 
force.  Seymour  is  smooth,  artful,  &  insinuating.  He  con 
tinues  to  practice  in  the  Superior  Court.  Newberry  is  an 
honest  man,  does  tolerably  well,  closes  his  legal  career,  and 
quits  forensic  business  after  this  Winter.  Judd6  is  a  pretty 
good  speaker,  &  argues  a  cause  with  a  good  deal  of  weight. 
C.  G.  .  .h7  speaks  like  a  man  of  sense  &  a  Lawyer  --is  rather 
too  rapid,  and  not  so  graceful  as  I  expected.  Wm  M.  .  .  .y8 
speaks  with  great  weight  -  -  of  voice.  -  Th8  S.  .  .n  seems 
to  have  a  deficiency  of  ideas.  -  Trumbull9  stands  the  first 
as  to  knowledge  of  the  Law  and  correctness  of  reasoning. 
Ths  Ch.  .  .r10  will  be  a  pretty  speaker,  but  not  a  great  Law 
yer.  Our  Class-Mate  W.  .  .ms11  has  considerable  business; 
fails  in  speaking.  &c  - 

3  Probably  Charles  Chauncey,  LL.D.,  of  New  Haven. 

4  Probably  Pierpont  Edwards  (Princeton,  Class  of  1768). 

5  Probably  Jesse  Root  (Princeton,  Class  of  1756). 

6  Probably  William  Judd  (Yale,  Class  of  1763). 

7  Probably  Chauncey  Goodrich  (Yale,  Class  of  1776). 

8  Probably  William  Moseley  (Yale,  Class  of  1777). 

9  Probably  John  Trumbull  (Yale,  Class  of  1767). 

10  Probably  Thomas  Chester  (Yale,  Class  of  1780). 

11  John  Williams  (Yale,  Class  of  1781). 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          397 

About  70  or  80  actions  were  adjourned  to  this  Superior 
Court.  They  will  be  chiefly  cleared  off  this  Term. 

You  have  the  advantage  of  me  with  respect  to  the  matter 
of  your  epistles,  for  (not  to  mention  the  inventiveness  of 
your  genius)  the  occurrences  which  happen  among  my 
Friends  &  acquaintances  at  N  H.  will  afford  a  subject  very 
interesting  to  me.  I  have  felt  quite  a  dearth  as  to  intelligence 
of  this  kind."  .... 

P.  S.  Decr  I4th.  "I  did  intend  to  have  sent  this  by  an 
earlier  opportunity,  but  considering  that  the  conveyance 
would  be  so  direct  by  his  Honour,  I  concluded  by  him.  .  .  . 
The  County  Court  sat  at  Windham  on  tuesday  of  this  week, 
and  the  same  day  adjourned  to  February  next,  on  account  of 
the  badness  of  the  weather,  and  because  of  THE  COMMOTIONS 
IN  MASSACHUSETTS." 

In  1787,  Mr.  Perkins,  now  fixed  permanently  in  Hartford, 
writes  to  Mr.  Baldwin  of  a  literary  club  which  had  been 
formed  in  that  place : 

"There  is  a  Society  of  Gentlemen  in  this  town,  who  meet 
once  a  week  to  discuss  litterary,  political  &  professional  Sub 
jects.  The  question  having  been  established  the  preceeding 
evening,  the  President  asks  the  members  their  sentiments 
seriatim.  Without  the  formality  of  rising  They  give  their 
real  opinions,  &  the  reasons  on  which  they  are  grounded. 
Mr  Strong,12  Dr  Fitch,  Dr  L.  Hopkins,  Mr  Goodrich13  &c 
are  of  the  Society.  It  is  an  improving  institution.  I  take  a 
great  deal  of  satisfaction  in  attending  it." 

Joel  Barlow  published  the  "Vision  of  Columbus"  in  1787, 
at  Hartford,  where  he  was  one  of  the  coterie  called  the  "Hart 
ford  Wits."  Mr.  Perkins  alludes  to  them  in  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Baldwin  dated  April  30,  1787. 

12  Probably  Rev.  Nathan  Strong,  D.D. 

13  Chauncey  Goodrich  (Yale,  Class  of  1776). 


398          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

"I  write  just  to  say,  how  do  you  &  good  be  t'ye  -  How  do 
you  do  -  -  &  think  -  -  &  act  -  -  &  feel  -  How  does  the 
amiable  Miss  R.  .  S.  .n14  What  is  going  on  in  the  city  of 
N — H—  As  to  us  in  this  town  we  are  pretty  much  in  statu 
quo  -  The  course  of  politics  seems  to  be  rather  against  the 
wits  &  poets  -  I  believe  they  feel  rather  mortified  -  It 
would  be  odd,  if  instead  of  writing  W.  W.  Esqr15  into  political 
annihilation,  they  should  write  him  into  the  second  seat  in  the 
State  -  The  vision  of  Columbus  you  have  doubtless  read  - 
The  versification  is  corect  &  stately  -  -  the  ideas  sublime  & 
striking  -  -  the  author  has  the  merit  of  introducing  into  it 
many  new  ideas  &  similes.  Upon  the  whole  I  think  it 
deserves  to  be  ranked  in  an  equal  station  with  some  of  the  first 
English  poems." 

A  letter  from  Mr.  Perkins  to  Mr.  Baldwin,  dated  January 
15,  1788,  shows  who  reported  the  debates  of  the  Convention 
which  had  met  on  January  4,  at  Hartford,  and  ratified  the 
Federal  Constitution  in  behalf  of  Connecticut.16 

"I  had  particular  reasons  for  attending  the  Convention, 
all  the  hours  that  they  were  sitting.  Company  I  could  not 
be  escaped  from.  The  Printers  were  very  desirous  that  I 
should  write  something  respecting  the  debates  of  the  Con 
vention,  for  them  to  publish.  I  undertook,  and  this  occupied 
every  moment  of  spare  time.  The  proceedings  of  the  Con 
vention  have  now  got  to  be  quite  an  old  Story.  But  I  mean 
to  write  you  a  long  letter;  and  if  I  should  happen  to  say 
any  thing  on  this  subject  which  you  have  heard  before,  it 
will  not  be  much  trouble  for  you  to  read  it. 

Gen.  Wadsworth  attacked  the  constitution  pugnis  &  cal- 
caribus,  unguibus  &  rostro.  Col.  Dyer,  to  shew  his  wis 
dom  &  importance,  &  to  shew  that  other  men  did  not  know 
so  much  as  I,  made  a  great  many  objections  against  it.  He 
talked,  till  I  believe  he  disgusted  every  single  soul  who  heard 

14  Miss  Rebecca  Sherman. 

15  Probably  William  Williams  (Harvard,  Class  of  1751). 

16  See  Elliott's  Debates  on  the  Federal  Constitution,  II,  185. 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          399 

him.  Mr  Hopkins17  was  afraid  lest  the  liberties  of  the  people 
should  be  infringed.  But  the  objections  &  the  objectors  were 
weak;  the  strength  lay  on  the  other  side.  Mr  Ellsworth 
was  a  complete  master  of  the  subject;  he  was  armed  at  all 
points ;  he  took  a  very  active  part  in  defending  the  constitu 
tion;  scarcely  a  single  objection  was  made  but  what  he 
answered;  his  energetic  reasoning  bore  down  all  before  it. 
Father  S.  .  .n's18  good  sense,  penetration,  &  knowledge  of  the 
political  affairs  of  his  country  had  very  great  weight.  He 
did  a  great  deal  at  removing  objections.  Dr  Johnson  rea 
soned  well  on  the  subject;  his  eloquence  was  musick  to  the 
ear.  Gov.  Huntington  in  his  calm  placid  manner  offered 
his  sentiments;  &  did  a  great  deal  toward  reconciling  the 
opposition.  You  might  perceive  by  what  Gov.  Wolcott  said 
that  he  thought  well;  but  he  is  no  speaker.  Law19  spoke 
two  or  three  times  in  his  usual  dry  manner.  At  the  begin 
ning  of  the  debate  Col.  Williams  rose  &  talked  a  great  while 
partly  on  one  side  &  partly  on  the  other,  &  finally  observed 
with  striking  propriety  that  his  arguments  concluded  nothing. 
He  was  unwise  enough  to  revive  the  memory  of  last  winters 
controversy,  by  interrupting  Gen.  Parsons,  &  calling  him  to 
order.  Parsons  gave  him  a  spat,  &  let  him  run.  Edwards 
spoke  once  or  twice  very  well;  but  he  thought  it  best  for 
those  to  defend  the  constitution,  who  could  be  heard  with  less 
distrust.  Upon  the  whole  every  thing  relating  to  this 
important  transaction,  was  concluded  with  good  policy  & 
decorum,  &  lead  to  a  happy  result.  The  greater  part  of  the 
opposition  went  away  above  half  convinced  that  the  con 
stitution  ought  to  be  adopted. 

After  the  grand  question  was  decided,  Gen.  Wadsworth 
&  some  of  his  coadjutors  being  together,  could  not  help 
expressing  their  chagrin  at  the  defection  of  Col.  Wms.  & 
Mr  Hopkins.  One  of  them  (I  am  told)  speaking  of  the 
latter,  called  him  Copper.  Gen.  W  -  -  th  replied,  don't  call 
him  Copper,  call  him  Weathercock." 


17  Joseph  Hopkins. 

18  Roger  Sherman. 


19  Richard  Law  (Yale,  Class  of  1751). 


400         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

In  a  letter  of  March  31,  1788,  Mr.  Perkins  thus  alludes 
again  to  this  subject: 

"The  political  world  seems  to  be  very  still  with  us  -  -  I  do 
not  hear  of  any  electioneering  -  If  any  is  carried  on,  it  is 
sub  rosa  -  The  comptrollership,  it  is  thought  will  die  a 
natural  death  this  Spring  -  An  attempt  is  to  be  made  to 
turn  off  from  the  bench  Col.  D.  ..r19a  who  made  himself 
ridiculous  &  disgustful  in  the  convention,  &  whose  peevish 
loquacity  has  done  much  to  sink  the  dignity  of  the  S .  .  .  r20 
Court."' 

On  May  26,  1789,  Mr.  Perkins  writes  Mr.  Baldwin  on 
matters  of  State  politics. 

"Mr  C.  .  .y.  .21  is  undoubtedly  highly  pleased  with  being 
nominated  to  the  long  wished  &  sought  office;  I  think  the 
appearance  that  he  will  pass  the  upper  board  grows  more 
favourable  •  Mr  Edwards  discharges  the  Office  of  a 
Speaker  with  propriety,  gracefulness,  ability,  &  dispatch;  and 
I  believe  gives  exceeding  good  Satisfaction  to  the  house.  .  . 

With  respect  to  our  new  Sheriff,  there  is  less  &  less  said 
about  him.  His  appointment  was  generally  looked  upon  as 
a  piece  of  unjustifiable  intrigue  &  partiality.  But  now  he  is 
in,  I  believe  but  few  people  are  disposed  to  quarrel  with  him. 
If,  however,  he  should  be  guilty  of  mal-conduct  in  his  office, 
he  has  enemies  enough  to  hold  him  up  to  public  view.  The 
circumstances  of  his  appointment  have  given  a  deep  wound 
to  Mitchels  popularity.  .  .  The  Mayor  of  our  City  is  in 
great  trouble.  He  has  talked  of  having  a  public  hearing 
upon  the  unfavourable  things  which  are  imputed  to  him ;  but 
I  believe  he  will  find,  that  the  less  is  said  &  done  upon  the 
Subject  the  better  for  his  character. 

The  examination  into  the  affair  of  Judge  Pitkin,  I  believe 

19aEliphalet  Dyer  (Yale,  Class  of  1740). 

20  Superior. 

21  Charles  Chauncey  (Yale,  Class  of  1779)  was  appointed  a  Judge  of 
the  Superior  Court  in  1789. 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         4° ' 

will  eventually  turn  out  advantageously  for  his  character; 
but  his  reappointment  is  not  expected." 

"Tuesday  evening  -  This  afternoon  was  chiefly  taken  up 
in  hearing  a  complaint  vs.  Noah  Phelps  &  D.  Pettibone  two 
Simsbury  Justices  for  mal-administration  in  issuing  a  War 
rant  to  apprehend  a  person  in  the  State  of  N.  York  on  a 
charge  of  theft,  when  they  knew  that  no  theft  had  been  com 
mitted  -  There  were  some  palliating  circumstances,  &  they 
were  re-appointed.  — 

The  Comptroller  &  Auditors  have,  this  afternoon  reported 
further  upon  the  late  Treasurers  matters,  suggesting  further 
difficulties  -  -  there  is  to  be  a  public  hearing  on  the  subject 
before  both  houses  on  thursday  - 

May  2Qth  Yesterday  was  taken  up  in  hearing  the  repre 
sentation  of  the  Comptroller  &  Auditors.  You  will  learn  the 
particulars  from  other  Quarters  -  I  shall  only  say  that  the 
appearance  of  things  was  unfavourable.  The  Assembly 
have  accepted  the  report  of  the  Compr  &  Audr™  &  appointed 
a  committee  to  report  what  further  ought  to  be  done. 

The  hearing  of  the  Charges  vs.  Col  Seymour  was  assigned 
for  to  day;  but  is  postponed  to  Tuesday  next.  .  .  They 
have  adopted  a  set  of  rules  similar  to  those  adopted  by  the 
house  of  representatives  and  Congress.  -  -  But  they  will  not 
be  strictly  adhered  to." 

On  May  27,  1790,  Mr.  Perkins  writes  thus  to  Mr.  Baldwin: 

"Judge  D. —  made  his  representation  to  House  in  person; 
among  other  excuses,  one  admitted  inadvertence  or  ignorance 
of  the  Statutes.  -  The  House  took  the  matter  into  consid 
eration,  several  wise  speeches  were  made  on  the  occasion 
interspersed  with  touches  of  ridicule,  &  finally  it  was  resolved 
to  restore  him  to  his  capacity  -  The  next  day  after,  a  gen 
eral  amnesty  was  passed  in  favour  of  all  in  like  cases  offend 
ing.  .  .  The  U.  H.22  have  consented  to  the  repeal  of  the 
excise  laws  from  &  after  the  Ist  of  July  next  -  The  U.  H. 
have  not  yet  decided  upon  the  existence  of  the  Court  of 

22  Upper  House. 


402          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

Errors.  I  believe  it  will  not  be  annihilated ;  perhaps  it  may 
be  altered  by  making  the  concurrence  of  6  or  7  of  the  mem 
bers  necessary  to  reverse  a  Judg*.  of  Supr.  Court  The  lower 
House  have  had  a  long  debate  upon  the  Subject  of  exclusion, 
&  have  finally  passed  a  Bill  excluding  the  Senators  &  repre 
sentatives  in  Congress  from  Seats  in  the  Legislature  of  this 
State  -  Our  Comptroller  has  made  a  report  to  the  Gen. 
Assembly  -  -  recommending  among  other  things  that  4  pr. 
Cent  interest  in  Cash  be  paid  by  the  State  on  the  public  debt 

-  ways  &  means,  a  lottery  --  enhanced  duties  on  writs  &c  - 
excise  -  -  &  2d  on  the  pound  tax  -       No  probability  that  his 
plan  will  be  adopted.      A  Committee  has  been  appointed  to 
take  into  consideration  the  criminal  laws  --  have  not  reported 

-  D°.  to  take  into  consideration  the  inspection  laws 

The  U.  H.  has  had  an  addition  of  weight  as  well  as 
numbers." 

Rev.  Stanley  Gr  is  wold  (Yale,  Class  of  1786)  writes  him 
on  November  3,  1788,  on  the  character  of  the  legal  profession : 

"I  believe  it  to  be  a  very  just  &  useful  profession,  provided 
it  be  practiced  with  a  deference  to  virtue  &  religion:  -  -  & 
it  cannot  be  denied  but  that  in  the  profession,  there  are  dis 
tinguished  temptations  to  prevarication,  deceit  &  falsehood. 
You,  Sir,  I  conceive  to  be  a  person  indeed  with  fortitude  & 
virtue  sufficient  to  stem  the  current  of  temptation,  &  make 
your  practice  strictly  conformable  to  the  rules  of  virtue, 
truth  &  sobriety.  And  however  difficult  the  task  may  be  to 
moderate  genii  at  the  present  day,  still  it  is  not  impracticable, 
as  we  see  in  the  instances  of  the  illustrious  Johnson,  Ells 
worth  &  others." 

In  1790,  a  correspondent  in  Cambridge,  Vermont,  Prince 
B.  Hall,  writes  that  he  could  not  take  advantage  of  an  earlier 
opportunity  because  until  recently  he 

"had  only  paper  enow  with  me  to  write  two  or  three  Letters 
on  Business.  On  inquiry  I  found  there  was  not  paper  suffi 
cient  in  Town  to  write  the  initials  of  Sd  Town  &  State  —  This 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          403 

I  desired  him  to  inform  you  of,  Likewise  to  present  my  grate 
ful  Compliments,  Had  this  not  been  the  case  I  should  with 
much  satisfaction  have  Committed  the  same  Compliments  on 
Paper  &  forwarded  by  him  .  .  As  a  proof  that  there  was 
no  paper  in  Town  I  saw  the  Town  Clark  using  Birch  Bark 
in  its  Stead,  This  I  think  is  the  utmost  Evidence  the  nature 
of  the  Fact  is  capable  of." 

Mr.  Hall  adds: 

"I  have  had  considerable  thoughts  of  getting  the  Oath  in 
this  State  -  I  am  certain  it  would  be  much  more  to  my 
advantage  than  to  have  it  in  Connecticut  but  there  is  other 
business  at  present  more  Lucrative  than  the  Oath  in  either 
State  -  -  I  have  Pettifogd  Considerable,  not  for  gain  but  for 
Sport  -  -  I  think  a  man  might  get  a  tolerable  living  by  it,  tis 
Amazing  to  see  the  wisdom  of  some  of  our  Justices 

All  are  pretty  mute  about  Congress.  Since  the  insult  the 
Commissioners  rec'd  from  York  State,  I  do  not  imagine  that 
more  than  one  third  of  this  State  wish  to  come  in  to  the 
Union  -  -  &  that  number  decreases  -  I  had  rather  live  in 
Lapland  than  here  on  account  of  hearing  Connecticut  News. 
We  have  the  papers  every  other  week,  from  Windsor,  but 
they  get  old  before  I  see  them  ...  I  am  sorry  to  hear 
your  Wheelers  are  Revild;  By  what  I  can  learn  their  Con 
duct  is  narrowly  Inspected  .  .  Political  Speculators  (I 
am  told)  Increase;  I  think  it  not  a  good  Omen." 

Senator  Sherman  sent  to  Simeon  Baldwin,  on  January  30, 
1792,  a  copy  of  a  pending  bill  to  fix  the  compensation  of 
officers  in  the  Courts  of  the  United  States,  for  his  considera 
tion.  Extracts  from  the  reply  follow. 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Roger  Sherman 

"New  Haven  Feby  4,  1792  - 

The  amendments  you  propose  I  think 

would  improve  the  bill  -  -  most  of  the  States  have  a  mode  of 
proceeding  in  equity  &  admiralty  causes,  &  so  far  as  they 
have  deviated  from  the  Civil  Law  forms,  they  have  I  believe 


404          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

in  general,  bettered  the  system  —  but  I  do  not  believe  that  the 
States  in  general  would  adopt  the  simplicity  of  our  Con1, 
system  unless  it  was  made  explicit  by  the  Bill  —  I  do  not  see 
the  necessity  of  so  many  executions  as  the  bill  contemplates 
-  it  may  be  serviceable  to  Clerks,  but  will  embarass  creditors, 
I  know  of  no  inconveniences  whh  result  from  our  mode  of 
blending  them  all  in  one  -  -  many  conveniences  will  certainly 
attend  it  —  &  Quere  —  if  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  author 
ize  Circuit  Courts  to  issue  Exns  to  run  to  any  Dist*  as  we  in 

this  State  do  to  any  County 

.  .  It  appears  to  me  that  the  Clerk  of  any  Court  ought  to 
have  a  fixed  &  central  residence  -  -  &  that  many  evils  will 
result  from  the  apfc  of  a  Clerk  to  the  Sup.  C.  residing  in  a 
remote  part  of  the  Union  - 

Mr.  Baldwin  had  a  natural,  and  perhaps  inherited  turn 
for  the  study  of  mechanics.  He  taught  natural  philosophy 
as  a  tutor,  and  was  glad  to  aid  his  pupils  in  making  it  of 
practical  use  to  themselves.  Quite  a  part  of  his  practice  at 
the  bar  from  the  first  was  the  procurement  of  patents,  and 
drafting  the  claims  on  which  they  were  predicated.  One 
such  pupil  was  Dr.  Joseph  Strong  (Yale,  Class  of  1788),  who 
while  living  in  Philadelphia  in  1792,  wrote  this  letter,  refer 
ring  to  the  use  which  Mr.  Baldwin  gave  him  of  his  barn  floor 
for  the  trial  of  a  machine  for  the  carriage  of  persons  on  the 
highway  somewhat  in  the  nature  of  a  bicycle: 

Joseph  Strong  to  Simeon  Baldwin 

"I  now  will  observe  a  few  things  respecting  the  carriage 
to  you,  not  to  be  spoken  of  -  My  reasons  for  secrecy  have 
been  to  save  the  world  much  labour  from  unimportant  obser 
vation  on  my  procedure  -  in  this  inclination  I  was  aided 
by  the  decided  counsels  of  those  who  are  my  patrons  -  My 
prospect  of  success  is  favorable  -  my  principles  are  sup 
ported  by  the  authority  of  philosophers  in  this  city  &  I  find 
no  one  of  them  to  be  false.  -  The  carriage  is  advanced  by 
the  best  artists  &  will  be  finished  this  winter  —  perhaps  in 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          4°5 

6  weeks  -  It  would  have  been  more  forward  but  I  went  on 
deliberately  to  have  it  done  by  the  best  artists  &  in  secrecy.  — 
This  required  a  little  time.  -  It  will  be  very  light  &  elegant 
-  the  whole  will  not  weigh  more  than  35Olb  the  machinery 
is  of  iron  &  weighs  about  ioolb  inclosed  in  a  black  leather 
case  to  keep  it  from  dust  &  the  eyes  of  a  multitude.  I 
have  all  the  powers  in  this  diminished  size  which  I  would 
have  on  a  larger  scale  -  Philadelphia  is  an  excellent  place 
for  the  first  exhibition,  since  the  streets  are  equal  to  your 
barn  floor,  where  the  unwieldy,  ill  fabricated  original,  first 
moved  to  the  astonishment  of  all  who  understood  wheels  & 
pinions  -  How  far  my  project  may  be  useful  or  whether 
at  all,  must  be  known  hereafter.  I  think  however  from 
present  appearances  I  shall  make  an  exhibition  in  P —  not 
unfavorable  to  my  reputation  .  .  It  is  a  thing  unknown 
&  unthought  of  here  &  I  expect  the  populace  will  be  furious 
when  it  comes  into  the  streets.  The  Coach  Maker  I  have 
employed  is  the  first  in  the  City,  from  London  -  I  have  but 
lately  informed  him  of  my  plan  -  -  he  is  much  pleased  with  it 
&  is  convinced  it  will  go  very  easily  on  the  principles  of  its 
motion  -  -  his  ambition  is  strong  to  finish  it  with  elegance  & 
dispatch  -  -  this  is  one  advantage. 

I  hope  all  will  prosper  to  those  who  have  faith  &  believe  - 
I  shall  not  return  probably  until  March  -        Whether  in 
Carriage  or  on  Camels  I  know  not  but  hope  you  will  provide 
provender;   if  I  don't  want  it,  others  may." 

The  next  year  Dr.  Strong  writes  again  from  a  different 
quarter  of  the  country,  and  gives  a  clear  statement  of  the 
military  situation  of  the  United  States  forces  at  the  time  in 
what  is  now  the  Middle  West. 

"Cantonment  Legion  Ville  March  2d  1793 
Respected  Sir, 

I  write  you  from  the  influence  of  that  friendship 
which  you  once  knew  I  possessed  for  you  -  I  write  you  to 
tell  you  concisely  where  I  am  &  what  are  my  feelings  — 
Legion  Ville  is  Head  Quarters  for  our  Army.  It  is  situated 


406          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

on  the  North  West  side  of  the  Ohio  River  22  miles  below 
Pittsburgh.  The  place  is  on  high  ground  upon  a  large  bank 
of  the  River.  It  was  a  thick  wilderness  when  a  detachment 
of  the  army  arrived  here  last  Novr,  It  is  at  present  cleared 
for  many  acres,  &  about  500  log  houses  have  been  built  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  army.  It  is  a  very  pleasant  Vil 
lage  commanding  a  good  prospect  on  the  River.  The  woods 
are  thick  in  the  rear  of  the  encampment,  but  the  timber  is 
large  &  but  little  shrubbery.  There  are  about  1500  men  at 
this  place,  consisting  of  Artillery,  Cavalry,  Infantry  &  Rifle 
men.  They  are  under  strict  discipline,  &  would  make  a 
formidable  opposition  to  the  same  number  of  savages.  The 
whole  army  consists  at  present  of  more  than  3000  men. 
There  are  1000  men  at  F.  Washington  &  at  the  advanced 
Forts  &  below  to  Georgia  7  or  8  hundred  men  -  It  is 
expected  no  campaign  will  take  place  against  the  Indians 
untill  a  treaty  is  held  by  the  commissioners.  It  is  thought 
in  this  country  that  a  permanent  peace  cannot  be  established 
by  a  treaty.  The  savages  declare  in  the  most  pointed  terms 
that  their  minds  will  be  troubled  'till  they  have  free  posses 
sion  of  all  lands  North  &  West  of  the  Ohio.  Capt  Collins 
a  man  of  reputation  has  lately  arrived  here  from  a  tour  of 
4200  miles  in  the  Indian  country,  &  gives  much  interesting 
intelligence  respecting  the  situation  of  the  Indians.  He  was 
employed  by  Gen.  Wilkinson  to  recconoitre  the  Indian  settle 
ments  as  a  spy,  &  to  inform  himself  of  the  disposition  they 
bore  to  the  U.  States.  He  says  they  are  fully  determined 
on  war,  &  unless  we  cede  to  them  all  lands  now  in  possession 
of  the  U.  States  &  those  claimed  by  them  on  the  North  & 
Western  side  of  the  Ohio,  they  will  not  bury  the  Hatchet. 
The  probability  of  our  giving  up  the  claim  to  those  lands 
appears  small.  You  can  judge  of  the  public  disposition  in 
this  business  better  than  myself.  We  expect  another  bloody 
battle  to  decide  the  war.  Nothing  short  of  a  victory  over 
such  merciless  enemies  can  humble  their  national  pride,  & 
induce  them  to  sue  for  peace.  I  look  with  anxiety  to  the 
end  of  the  dispute,  but  mean  to  conduct  with  calm  &  delib 
erate  steps,  &  be  a  spectator  of  all  the  scenes  with  which  I 
can  connect  useful  improvement. 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          4°7 

I  am  going  in  about  10  days  down  the  Ohio  to  Fort  Wash 
ington.     It  is  500  miles  distant.     There  is  no  Surgeon  there 
but  Doctor  Allison  for  a  1000  men,  &  I  am  sent  to  assist  him. 
Wishing  you  many  blessings  in  life,  I  am  with 
respectful  esteem  your  friend  &  humble  Servant  - 

Joseph  Strong." 

A  year  later,  he  writes  again. 

"Fort  Washington  March  i6th  1794. 
Dear  Sir. 

I  am  happy  to  write  you  from  this  remote  tract  of 
nature,  to  inform  you  of  my  good  health  &  prosperity.  The 
distance  is  great,  &  the  uncertainty  of  safe  conveyance  is  so 
common,  that  it  seems  a  sufficient  apology  for  my  not  writing 
you  often. 

I  recollect  the  Society  I  formerly  enjoyed  with  you  &  other 
friends  in  N.  H.  with  high  satisfaction.  I  remember  all 
your  friendly  usage  to  me  with  a  grateful  sensation,  &  I  wish 
that  the  kindest  indulgencies  of  fortune  may  be  allotted  to 
you. 

My  opportunities  of  professional  improvement  in  the  army, 
have  more  than  equalled  my  most  sanguine  expectations.  A 
great  variety  of  medical  subjects  have  been  fully  realized  in 
as  much  variety  of  practice. 

On  the  7th  of  Octr  last  I  was  directed  to  take  charge  of  the 
General  Hospital  of  the  Army  consisting  of  nearly  200 
patients.  The  great  variety  of  disorders  with  which  they 
were  affected  &  the  diversity  of  their  characters  in  sickness, 
disclosed  a  large  field  for  practical  enquiry.  I  have  had 
severe  duty  for  a  long  time,  but  it  is  now  more  satisfactory  — 

The  settlements  in  this  country  are  increasing  rapidly,  but 
are  obstructed  by  the  fear  of  the  savages  -  A  number  of 
towns  &  stations  are  built  on  the  north-west  of  the  Ohio  river, 
which  are  filled  with  all  professions  of  men.  -  There  are 
large  stores  of  English  &  W.  Indian  goods  in  the  town  of 
Cincinati  adjoining  this  Garrison  &  many  of  the  arts  of  life 
have  been  introduced  here  in  the  wilderness. 


408          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

The  Indians  appear  more  than  ever  disposed  for  war  - 
There  is  a  real  want  of  an  alteration  &  addition  to  the  military 
system. 

I  much  lament  the  death  of  W  Sherman.  Although  his 
character  will  be  revered  by  the  present  &  future  age,  yet 
that  consolation  will  not  make  his  connections  entirely  sub 
missive  to  his  fate.  He  was  kind  to  all,  even  to  an  enemy, 
for  he  forgave  him.  His  wisdom  has  received  an  eulogium 
already  from  a  thousand  judicious  mourners.  May  his 
character  be  held  in  view  by  all  who  would  wish  to  establish 
an  honorable  &  everlasting  fame.  - 

I  have  travelled  back  in  this  country  80  miles  toward  the 
Miami  Villages  -  There  is  a  fine  soil  in  all  this  country,  & 
the  most  prolific  vegetation  I  ever  saw.  -  The  fortifications 
in  this  country  which  were  raised  by  some  past  people,  &  the 
mounds  of  earth  which  appear  as  designed  for  perpetual 
monuments  are  scattered  over  all  parts  of  it,  without  a  signa 
ture  to  explain  the  character  of  the  founders.  - 

I  shall  collect  every  true  history  which  I  am  able  to  do, 
of  the  past  state  of  this  territory  &  of  the  present  &  past 
customs  of  the  natives.  I  expect  to  leave  the  army  in  one 
year  more  &  establish  myself  in  private  practice.  - 

Please  to  remember  me  affectionately  to  Mra  Baldwin  & 
all  branches  of  the  family  of  Sherman.  - 

I  am  dear  sir  with  much  esteem  your  sincere  friend 
Joseph  Strong." 

Most  of  the  work  of  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States  at  this  period  was  done  on  the  circuits. 
Not  many  judgments  were  rendered  in  the  inferior  Courts 
from  which  a  writ  of  error  or  appeal  could  be  taken. 
Appellate  business  had  to  be  created.  Each  Justice  was 
assigned  to  a  Circuit  containing  several  places  at  which  courts 
were  held.  They  sometimes  spent  months  in  thus  travelling 
about,  and  holding  terms  at  centers  hundreds  of  miles  apart. 
Justice  Gushing  of  Massachusetts  once  drove  with  his  own 
phaeton  and  horses  several  hundred  miles  on  the  Southern 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          409 

Circuit,  but  ordinarily  they  travelled  by  water,  whenever 
it  was  possible,  and  when  it  was  not,  by  stage. 

This  brought  the  clerks  of  the  district  courts  of  the  United 
States  in  familiar  contact  with  some  of  the  most  prominent 
men  of  the  day.  While  Mr.  Baldwin  held  that  office  Justice 
Iredell  of  North  Carolina  was  assigned  to  the  circuit  which 
embraced  Connecticut. 

James  Iredell  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Greenfield,  Massachusetts,  May  20,  1795. 

-  .  I  am  now  on  my  way  to  Portsmouth  from  Windsor. 
I  found  Windsor  exceeding  my  expectations  and  received 
very  pleasing  civilities  there  Vermont  is  certainly  in  a  most 
rapid  state  of  improvement  and  Windsor  contains  a  society 
which  I  could  not  leave  without  regret." 


Sir 


Simeon  Baldwin  to  Justice  Iredell. 

"New  Haven  July  28  1795  - 


.  .  I  am  happy  to  hear  that  your  circuit  has  been  agreeable 
to  you  -  New  England  has  heretofore  prided  itself  on  being 
friendly  to  gov*.  &  good  order  -  -  &  it  gives  me  pain  that  the 
intemperate  conduct  of  several  towns  in  so  hastily  condemn 
ing  the  treaty,  the  merits  of  which  they  could  not  then  under 
stand,  should  in  this  crisis  tarnish  that  character  -  The 
people  in  Con1,  tho  materially  interested  in  the  West  India 
trade,  I  am  confident  are  fully  disposed  to  leave  the  decision 
of  that  question  to  the  powers  constituted  for  that  purpose, 
&  from  what  I  have  seen  it  appears  that  the  more  they  reflect 
and  are  informed  upon  the  subject  -  -  the  better  they  like  the 
Instrument.  M18  B.  joins  me  in  respectful  complts  &  sincere 
wishes  for  your  health  &  prosperity 
I  am  &c  —  "23 

23  This  letter  is  published  in  full  in  Griffith's  Life  and  Correspondence 


of  James  Iredell,  II,  433. 


410         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

Justice  Iredell  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Philadelphia  August  i8th  1795 
Dear  Sir 

I  should  much  sooner  have  acknowledged  your 
obliging  letter  but  that  we  have  been  so  incessantly  employed 
in  business  in  the  Supreme  Court  that  it  has  been  scarcely 
possible  for  us  to  attend  to  any  thing  else,  one  cause  began 
on  the  6th  instant  and  is  not  yet  ended,  and  one  lawyer  spoke 
three  days.  I  little  doubted  the  moderation  and  good  sense 
of  your  happy  State  and  rejoice  that  in  the  midst  of  so  violent 
a  storm  increased  by  all  possible  prejudice  and  malignity 
she  has  remained  firm  with  so  much  dignified  composure  - 
Nothing  is  more  clear  than  that  whatever  difference  may  be 
occasioned  among  sensible  men  in  regard  to  some  of  the 
Articles,  many  objections  are  founded  on  a  palpable  mis 
construction  of  the  meaning  of  the  Treaty,  which  has  been  so 
commonly  read  and  condemned  with  unpardonable  precipita 
tion." 

The  original  Judiciary  Act  did  not  provide  as  to  how  a 
quorum  in  the  Circuit  Court  was  constituted.  At  the  April 
Term  in  1794  for  the  District  of  Connecticut  only  the  District 
Judge  attended,  and  he  did  not  feel  that  he  had  any  right 
to  act  for  the  Court.  Under  these  circumstances  the  letters 
to  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  were  sent, 
from  which  the  following  extracts  are  made: 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Uriah  Tracy. 

"Such  events  whatever  may  be  the  cause  are  unhappy, 
peculiarly  so  in  the  early  operations  of  our  government  & 
of  our  Judiciary  System  •  -  when  the  watchful  partizan 
counts  every  foil  -  We  in  this  State  you  know  are  not  gen 
erally  disposed  to  murmur  -  but  so  many  persons  were  dis 
appointed  &  put  to  fruitless  expence  by  the  absence  of  one, 
that  it  opperated  a  little  upon  their  republican  pride  -  I  hope 
satisfactory  reasons  can  be  assigned  for  the  event  - 

I  congratulate  you  on  the  Success  of  northern  politics  and 
firmness,  &  that  the  cloud  has  less  threatening  appearances  of 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          4 1 1 

war  —    we  have  much  confidence  in  the  abilities  of  the  envoy 
extra.  -  -  &  in  the  policy  of  the  measure  - 
I  am  &c  - 

"New  Haven  Feby.  15.  1794- 
Dear  Sir 

Maddisons  propositions  I  see  are  postponed  — 
pray  what  is  the  real  object  of  Mr  Maddison  &  his  party  — 
by  this  time  I  presume  the  discerning  members  see  thro' 
them  -  we  differ  here  in  our  sentiments  -  I  have  hereto 
fore  viewed  him  as  an  honest  man  -  -  but  if  war  is  his  object, 
he  deserves  the  Guilottine 

It  is  somewhat  surprizing  to  me  that  any  one  man,  a 
stranger,  a  foreigner,  could  have  that  influence  among  the 
enlightened  republicans  of  this  country,  in  the  space  of  one 
Summer,  as  to  will  the  Councils  of  patriots,  eradicate  the 
amor  patriae  -  -  &  involve  our  Citizens  in  all  the  feuds  of 
party  zeal  &  our  Country  in  a  war  as  inconsistent  &  as  useless 
as  a  war  with  Beelzebub  &  his  princes  --  &  yet  from  appear 
ances  Genet  has  done  it  - 

Uriah  Tracy  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Philadelphia  3Oth  Jany  1794. 
My  dear  Sir  - 

.  .  Politics,  are  the  Staple  Commodity  here,  but,  Sir,  They 
are  so  much  in  Chaos  yet,  that  I  can  hardly  mark  any  prom 
inent  features  for  detail.  -  Our  increment  of  numbers  in 
the  house  of  Representatives,  has  not  put  on  divided  appear 
ances.  -  I  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  maintain  government  & 
peace,  but  I  fear  War  &  Anarchy  are  our  portion,  Genet 
is  recalled,  as  it  is  said,  but  this  I  can  not  say  officially.  -  But 
at  any  rate  the  Anarchy  and  War,  which  he  has  tried  to 
infuse,  has  not  ceased  in  its  effects.  - 

We  obtain  Votes  by  a  small  majority,  to  Arm  against 
Algiers,  &c  -  -  &  indeed  that  business  is  still  in  doubt. 
Whether  we  shall  arm  or  not,  is  yet  uncertain.  -  We  spend 
much  time,  in  eloquent  discussions  about  opening  Gallery 


412          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

Doors,  when  we  are  in  hearing  &  discussing  private  Com 
munications  from  the  PresicP  of  the  United  States,  so 
declared  by  him ;  for  it  is  said,  after  we  get  the  secret  -  -  it 
is  ours,  not  the  President's.  -  -  &  if  we  please  to  divulge  it, 
we  ought,  &  every  thing  ought  to  be  made  known  to  a  free 
people  -  We  are  but  the  voice  of  the  people  &  their  servants, 
&  shall  we  keep  any  thing  secret  from  them  ?  -  -  &  then  will 
follow  an  elegant  discussion  about  Republicanism;  &  the 
danger  of  our  destroying  the  liberties  of  the  people,  &c. 
&c.  — " 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Philadelphia,  March  28th.  1798 
Dear  Sir 

.  Unless  some  change  takes  place,  and  we  should  receive 
more  favourable  Accounts  from  France,  we  shall  be  obliged 
to  adopt  measures  of  defence  against  such  wanton  Violation 
of  our  rights  and  property,  as  are  now  sanctioned  by  the 
Republic  of  France,  which  measures  we  cannot  expect  will 
be  very  readily  agreed  to,  when  so  great  a  number  seem  more 
disposed  to  excuse,  if  not  justify,  the  aggressions  of  a  foreign 
Nation,  than  support  our  own  Government  -  An  Embargo 
has  been  attempted  under  an  Idea  that  it  was  better  to  Sacri 
fice  all  the  Commerce  of  the  United  States,  rather  than  give 
offence  to  France,  by  attempting  any  defence,  but  was  nega 
tived  in  the  Senate  by  a  large  majority." 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Philadelphia  May  8th  1798. 
Dear  Sir 

I  was  very  much  obliged  by  your  favor  of  the  25th 
ult°,  and  am  very  glad  to  hear  that  our  New  Burying  Ground 
is  like  to  give  general  satisfaction  -  I  have  always  been 
fully  persuaded  that  if  no  exertion  was  attempted,  and  every 
one  was  left  to  the  operation  of  his  own  reflection  and  judg 
ment,  the  good  sense,  and  good  disposition  of  the  people  of 
New  Haven,  would  lead  them  to  patronize  a  plan,  so  well 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          4 1 3 

calculated  to  provide  us  with  a  decent  Repository  for  the 
Ashes  of  our  departed  Friends,  and  will  put  it  in  our  power 
to  plant  the  old  one  with  Trees,  and  rear  a  grove  sacred  to 
the  Memory  of  those  who  may  have  been  dear  to  us  when 
in  life,  and  will  more  effectually  than  any  other  step  we  can 
take,  secure  their  Dust  from  being  disturbed  by  any  rude 
unhallowed  hand  when  surviving  Friends  shall  be  no  more, 
and  can  no  longer  perform  the  office  of  faithful  watchman  — 
I  am  very  sorry  the  situation  of  our  public  affairs  is  like  to 
detain  me  to  so  late  a  day,  but  I  hope  we  shall  be  able  however 
to  compleat  the  fencing  and  leveling  this  Summer  and  the 

planting  of  the  Trees  in  the  Fall  -        

Yesterday  exhibited  a  most  animating  Spectacle  —  The 
Young  men  of  the  City  from  Eighteen  to  Twenty  three 
assembled  and  marched  in  procession  through  an  immense 
crowd  of  Spectators  consisting  of  Men,  Women,  and  Chil 
dren,  to  deliver  their  Address  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States:  his  Answer,  which  gave  great  Satisfaction,  in  the 
enclosed  Paper  —  A  wonderful  change  has  taken  place. 
Instead  of  French  Cockades,  and  French  Frenzy,  a  truly 
American  Spirit  now  pervades  this  great  City  - 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Philadelphia  Decr  7,  1799 

"You  have  doubtless  seen  the  Presi 
dents  Speech  it  is  echoed  in  an  answer  drafted  by  Mr  Mar 
shall.  Some  think  the  answer  to(o)  approbatory  of  the 
mission  to  France;  others  that  it  was  expedient  to  prevent 
motions  of  Amendment  from  those  who  neither  respect  the 
President  or  his  measures,  but  might  be  willing  to  compliment 
him  on  that  Subject.  It  appears  by  the  communications  that 
the  President  had  direct  &  unequivocal  assurances  that  the 
Envoys  should  be  received,  &c,  before  he  suffered  them  to 
depart." 

On  December  10,  1799,  Gold  S.  Silliman,  who  had  begun 
the  study  of  law  in  Mr.  Baldwin's  office,  wrote  him  from 
Providence  this  description  of  the  Rhode  Island  bar : 


414          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

"There  are  in  the  whole  State  twenty  five  practicing  attor- 
nies  --  ten  of  them  are  in  this  town  &  four  in  Newport.  The 
common  pleas  docket  for  this  county  at  Decr  term  usually 
consists  of  about  four  or  five  hundred  causes,  that  of  New 
port  of  about  one  hundred,  &  I  presume  from  what  I  have 
heard  the  total  of  the  business  in  the  two  counties  is  about 
in  this  proportion.  I  have  my  doubts  whether  Newport  may 
not  be  a  preferable  place  for  me  to  sit  down  in,  rather  than 
Providence.  I  am  told  that  Mr  Lyman  has  so  many  col 
lateral  pursuits  that  his  attention  is  very  much  detracted 
from  professional  business  &  that  the  same  may  be  predicated 
of  Mess18  Robbins  &  King.  The  fourth  a  young  Mr  Hunter 
who  received  his  professional  education  at  the  temple  &  is 
independent  in  his  pecuniary  circumstances,  declines  sub 
mitting  to  the  drudgery  of  the  practice  &  bends  his  views 
principally  to  political  life.  So  there  appears  to  be  no  one 
in  the  place  who  can  be  termed  exclusively  a  lawyer.  The 
town  is  now  fast  looking  up  &  should  it,  as  it  probably  will 
become  the  navy  yard  for  the  northern  states,  it  will  again 
be  a  place  of  considerable  business.  From  its  being  so  con 
tiguous  to  the  ocean  it  must  be  the  port  into  which  many 
governmental  prizes  will  be  brought  for  trial  &  that  of  itself 
will  afford  a  pretty  lucrative  branch  of  law  business.  But 
on  the  other  hand  this  place  possesses  many  advantages 
which  Newport  does  not  &  as  yet  I  feel  myself  quite  unable 
to  form  a  definite  conclusion  upon  the  comparative  advan 
tages  of  the  two  towns." 

The  following  letter,  of  December  23,  1799,  refers  to  the 
death  of  Washington,  which  had  occurred  December  14. 
Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Dear  Sir 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  suit 
able  measures  of  honouring  the  Memory  of  Washington  are 
to  report  this  day.  Their  report  will  be  an  Eulogium  to  be 
delivered  on  Thursday  next  by  Gen1  Henry  Lee  of  Virginia 
a  recommendation  that  a  Badge  of  Mourning  be  worn  thirty 
days  throughout  the  Union  —  and  the  delivery  of  Eulogiums, 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          4 T  5 

Orations  &  discources  on  the  22d  Feby  next  --  and  that  here 
after  the  day  of  his  Death  be  noticed  through  the  Union,  as 
commemorative  of  their  loss  -  I  fear  the  last  is  not  a 
measure  founded  on  human  Nature  -  -  the  respect  to  his 
memory  &  name  will  continue,  but  the  passions  subside." 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Philadelphia  Jany  9,  1800 
Dear  Sir. 

Yesterday  and  this  day,  and  I  may  add  Tuesday 
have  been  spent  in  discussing  Mr  Nicholas'  motion  to  disband 
the  twelve  regiments.  The  question  has  been  long  since 
exhausted,  and  even  lost  sight  of,  and  yet  I  apprehend  more 
than  to  morrow  must  be  given  to  its  discussion.  The  num 
ber  enlisted  is  3500.  if  a  treaty  is  made  with  France  they 
are  disbanded  by  the  terms  of  inlistment  &  a  few  months 
settles  that  question :  &  even  those  who  advocate  the  measure 
dont  suppose  that  either  Justice  or  policy  will  admit  an  imme 
diate  disbandment  -  -  or  that  it  can  be  practicable  much 
sooner,  than  the  negotiation  is  terminated.  It  however 
affords  an  opportunity  to  ring  the  changes,  on  finance  & 
expences,  on  the  sufficiency  of  the  Militia,  &  the  impropriety 
of  standing  armies  &c.  &c.  — 

It  is  most  likely  the  only  popular  question  which  will  be 
agitated  &  will  terminate  in  a  modification  of  ordering  no 
further  inlistments.  - 

Mesrs  Nicholas  &  Gallatin  advocated  the  motion,  the  first 
is  more  difuse  in  his  conceptions,  and  very  Courteous  in  his 
manner,  the  latter  is  acute  &  discerns  with  immense  quickness 
the  weak  part  of  his  antagonists  argument,  assails  with  Art 
&  recoils  his  Adversarys  weakness  if  admissable  with  great 
dexterity.  Mr  Marshall  opposed  Mr  N  in  a  very  logical 
argument,  very  handsomely,  perhaps  I  ought  to  say  elo 
quently  delivered.  Mr  Bayard  preceeded  Gallatin  in  a  hand 
some  &  eloquent  speach.  &  the  subject  was  then  exhausted  - 
they  all  displayed  talents.  I  think  we  shall  take  the  question 
on  the  morrow.  It  will  probably  be  rejected  by  about  twelve 


4 1 6          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

majority.  I  wish  you  to  keep  my  Letters  much  to  yourself, 
I  may  suggest  opinions  which  are  formed  in  haste  upon  prob 
able  or  statements  relative  to  Men  or  measures,  which  to  a 
friend  may  be  very  proper,  tho'  not  suitable  for  the  public." 

The  following  letter  was  doubtless  given  by  Judge  Daggett 
to  Simeon  Baldwin,  and  was  preserved  among  his  papers : 
Elizur  Goodrich  to  David  Daggett. 

"Philadelphia  January  16,  1800: 
Dear  Sir 

You  will  doubtless  see  in  the  papers  a  correspond 
ence  between  the  President  of  the  United  States  &  a  mem 
ber  of  this  House.  Mr  R24  is  a  young  Gentleman,  aged 
twenty  seven,  the  nephew  of  the  former  Secretary  of  State 
he  has  imbibed  the  sentiments  of  equality  in  the  most  exten 
sive  sense.  In  the  debate  on  Nicholas'  Motion  he  urged 
against  the  Army,  and  said  that  the  people  did  not  wish  to 
have  their  Liberties  protected  by  a  mercinary  Army  —  and 
a  sett  of  Raggamuffions  -  these  words  were  retorted  upon 
him  -  he  explained  his  meaning  of  mercenary  to  be  per 
sons  serving  in  the  army  voluntarily  for  money  as  contrasted 
with  a  patriotic  army  called  for  by  the  Love  of  Liberty  &  a 
desire  to  aid  their  Country  He  said  he  had  used  the  expres 
sion  Raggamuffion  as  applicable  to  the  recruits  which  he  had 
seen  marched  by  his  Door  -  -  they  were  the  very  Lees  of 
Virginia  -  -  the  refuse  of  Society  &c  —  At  the  theatre  the 
ensuing  evening  some  officers  took  the  opportunity  to  talk 
loud  in  his  hearing  -  -  to  repeat  his  words  contemptuously 
and  in  the  Scene  when  so  (me)  soldiers  appeared  to  contrast 
them  with  their  recruits  or  raggamuffions  it  is  said  by  some 
that,  after  the  play,  he  was  squeezed  &  crowded  intentionally. 
This  I  believe  is  the  state  of  the  question  or  rather  testimony. 
The  Letters  are  referred  to  E  Goodrich,  Hanna,  R  Wil 
liams  Bayard,  James,  Sewell,  &  another  I  dont  recollect  I 
am  in  haste 

E  Goodrich." 

24  John  Randolph  of  Roanoke. 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          41 7 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Philadelphia  Jany  22d  1800. 
Dear  Sir 

I  inclose  you  a  Bill  for  a  general  System  of  Bank 
rupt  Law,  through  the  Union  -  it  has  been  considered  and 
passed  in  the  Committee  of  the  whole  House,  with  some 
amendments  and  is  ordered  for  a  third  reading  —  on  this 
question,  the  House  being  equally  divided,  the  Speaker 
decided  in  the  Affirmative  -  Some  members  were  absent, 
the  eventual  fate  of  the  Bill  is  very  uncertain.  I  really  wish 
it  were  possible  something  could  be  found  to  apply  to  the  evils 
which  exist,  and  yet  I  am  doubtfull  whether  the  General 
Government  can  give  relief.  The  diversity  which  exist (s) 
in  the  different  States  in  Legal  principle  &  practice  &  in  the 
administration  of  Justice  --  renders  it  difficult  to  spread  over 
the  Union  a  general  Law,  denning  the  rights  of  Creditor  & 
Debtor  -  Were  Creditors  never  hard-hearted  —  were 
Debtors  always  honest,  there  would  hardly  exist  a  necessity 
for  the  Law  -  -  but  we  must  take  Society  as  we  find  it,  and 
I  am  pretty  much  of  opinion  we  must  leave  the  business  as  it 
now  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  several  States 
•  To  make  a  Law  merely  for  Merchants  and  leave  the  rest 
to  the  respective  States,  by  no  means  furnishes  a  Plaster  for 
the  wound  &  may  perhaps  introduce  in  the  same  State  if  not 
Laws  running  abreast  of  one  another,  at  least  Laws,  based 
upon  different  principles  and  of  course  leading  to  a  different 
administration  &  result  -  Introduce  the  present  System  for 
Merchants,  debtors  to  the  amount  of  D32ooo  and  Mr  Tread- 
wells,  on  the  petition  of  the  Creditor  or  Debtor  in  all  cases 
not  within  the  Purview  of  this  list  &  where  would  be  the  end 
of  the  Confusion.  I  dont  pretend  to  say  what  System  would 
have  the  advantage  on  comparison  -  The  people  however 
would  I  apprehend  in  the  application  of  those  principles,  as 
their  respective  Interests  were  affected  consider  the  system 
as  marvellous,  as  the  establishment  of  the  different  prin 
ciples  of  the  civil,  cannon  &  common  Law  to  operate  in  the 
distribution  or  descent  of  property  according  to  the  different 
occupations  or  complexions  of  the  Inhabitants.  I  do  not 

14 


4 1 8         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

know  that  a  member  of  the  national  Legislature  supposes 
that  a  general,  uniform  system  can  be  introduced.  To  intro 
duce  a  system,  limited  to  Merchants  of  the  higher  might  per 
haps  benefit  large  commercial  Cities  the  great  Burthern 
however  would  still  remain  to  the  individual  States,  and  the 
complicated  Machinery  introduced  to  their  aid,  would  on 
experiment  rather  retard  than  assist  their  operations  On 
the  detail  of  the  Bill  it  is  difficult  to  secure  the  rights  of  the 
respective  parties  —  if  the  Debtor  is  honest  still  a  hard 
hearted  Creditor  may  say  Nolo,  and  he  has  no  Certificate  — 
if  the  Debtor  is  Dishonest  he  may  procure  factitious  Cred 
itors  &  obtain  a  Certificate  —  if  the  Commission  does  not 
relate  back  he  may  convey  in  contemplation  of  Bankruptcy; 
if  it  does  relate  back  an  honest  purchaser  may  suffer  -  -  if  all 
property  in  his  hands  at  the  time  of  the  Petition  is  not  taken 
as  his,  he  may  present  factorage  &  Bailment  —  if  it  is  to 
be  so  considered,  credit  may  be  limited  or  the  real  Owner 
injured  by  the  reputed  ownership  of  the  Debtor  created  by 
the  Law  -  A  thousand  other  things  will  suggest  themselves 
to  your  mind,  it  is  on  the  whole  a  question  of  experiment,  and 
I  am  rather  of  opinion  this  is  not  the  time  —  that  it  is  a  branch 
of  Legislation  which  it  is  better  to  let  the  several  States 
manage  for  themselves. 

I  am  respectfully  y*  Friend     E  Goodrich" 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Philadelphia  Feby  5.  1800. 

The  intelligence  from  Europe  was 

unexpected  to  the  Aurora  Men  —  they  first  flatly  denied  it 
—  then  waited  and  now  declare  it  perfectly  right  —  the 
Commission  to  our  Envoys  was  to  the  Republic;  if  that  form 
remains,  they  will  in  my  opinion  negotiate,  after  some  delay 
in  examining  whether  there  is  a  probability  of  stability." 

On  February  13,  1800,  Mr.  Baldwin  writes  to  his  brother- 
in-law,  Jabez  Colton,  his  views  of  the  French  Revolution : 

"The  late  Revolution  in  France  is  like  all  the  rest  of  their 
proceedings  incalculable  in  its  events  or  consequences  —   The 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         4 T  9 

proceedings  of  that  Nation  in  the  progress  of  the  main  revo 
lution  are  not  comparable  with  those  of  former  revolutions 
-  yet  I  think  their  issue  must  be  like  them  in  the  end  --  that 
is  they  will  terminate  in  the  establishment  of  Monarchy 
probably  limited  to  the  advantage  of  the  people  compared 
with  the  old  one !  an  old  -  -  extensive  empire,  made  up  of 
men  of  fickle  minds  &  quick,  lively,  enthusiastic  passions  is 
not  suited  for  a  republic  —  &  over  against  the  advantages 
the  people  may  finally  gain  -  -  is  to  be  charged  the  ruin  of 
many  families  (and  the)  immense  expence  of  Blood  & 
Treasure  expended  in  obtaining  them.  —  I  hope  we  shall 
profit  by  what  we  see  there  —  &  as  we  have  really  nothing  to 
expect  from  a  change,  let  us  avoid  the  calamities  they  suffer." 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Philadelphia  March  3,  1800. 
My  dear  Friend. 

I  turn  with  much  complacency  from  a  pile 
of  musty  reserve  Documents,  and  party  Pamphletteers  of 
either  party  on  the  construction  of  Charters  &c  -  -  and  from 
Jonathan  Robbins,  and  the  many  party  questions,  which  dis 
grace  our  proceedings  to  converse  with  you,  by  your  or  my 
fireside,  in  familiar  chitchat  and  tell  you  what  I  happen  to 
think  and  how  I  feel  and  to  indulge  in  enquiries  of  where 
you  and  what  are  doing.  I  will  tell  you  nothing  of  the 
hash  of  business  which  we  have  done,  and  say  but  little  of 
the  business  of  more  consequence  which  has  been  effected. 
The  real  business  which  is  done  is  considerable,  it  is  however 
always  prepared  in  selected  Committees:  and  is  commonly 
passed  as  reported  and  that  without  debate.  For  instance 
the  Committee  of  Claims  is  a  standing  Committee  All  Claims 
are  referred  to  them  —  they  keep  regular  records,  a  doquet, 
and  have  hearings,  and  make  reports,  in  which  they  are 
strictly  governed  by  precedents,  they  are  strict  as  to  evidence 
and  the  application  of  the  Laws  of  Limitation  —  Their 
Chairman  Dwight  Foster,  adds  to  amiable  manners  as  a  Man 
careful  investigation,  perseverance,  and  much  experience  in 
this  department  and  no  reports  for  Grants  can  find  their  way 


420         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

through  that  Committee  without  they  are  based  on  substantial 
fact,  justice  and  equity.  Applicants,  unless  they  have  a  good 
cause,  wish  to  escape  them,  and  there  can  be  no  complaint 
that  the  public  Monies  are  lavished  by  that  Committee  - 

The  Committee  of  Commerce  &  Manufactures,  is  generally 
raised  from  commercial  Men,  from  different  parts  of  the 
Union,  have  of  course  different  staples  for  exportation,  & 
different  objects,  they  are  heterogeneous  and  are  not  very 
accordant  in  general  Measures,  tho  the  commercial  arrange 
ments  of  the  Country  are  so  systematized  as  not  to  require 
many  general  Measures.  The  finances  of  the  Country  are 
under  the  inspection  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means, 
and  the  resources  of  the  Country  are  fully  equal  to  the 
ordinary  wants,  and  those  extraordinary  expenses,  which  are 
incurred  in  raising  a  Navy  and  defending  our  Commerce,  say 
to  the  extent  of  two  or  three  millions  might  I  am  persuaded 
be  defrayed  principally  by  opening  new  sources  of  revenue. 
And  this  must  be  done  in  preference  to  any  lengthened  rely- 
ance  on  Loans.  Loans  are  justifiable  as  temporary  expe 
dients,  but  the  prudence  of  the  Country  will  not  justify  them 
from  year  to  year  unless  the  means  of  their  reimbursement 
are  at  the  same  time  created.  And  however  anxious  I  am  to 
quit  this  spot,  I  hope  we  shall  be  chained  here,  until  we  open 
some  new  sources  of  revenue,  or  in  other  words  increase  the 
burtherns  of  the  people,  so  thoroughly  am  I  persuaded  that 
we  ought  not  even  in  this  time  of  pressure  to  suffer  the  Debt 
to  increase.  I  observe  here  incidentally,  that  from  informa 
tion  I  rely  on  (&  I  am  going  through  to  satisfy  myself  amid 
voluminous  documents)  on  a  comparison  of  increase  & 
decrease  of  Debt  not  more  than  1.500.000  Dollars  have  been 
added  under  the  present  Government  and  the  public  ships  at 
auction  would  replace  that  on  the  Morrow.  I  have  no 
anxiety  to  repel  the  frequent  assertion,  that  the  public  debt, 
is  rapidly  increasing  -  it  is  to  be  considered  that  the  various 
insurrections  which  have  taken  place,  and  the  expenditures, 
and  involvements  consequent  on  the  European  Wars  have 
prevented  its  diminution,  and  it  is  undoubtedly  true  that 
experience  in  many  instances  has  shown  in  public  affairs,  as 
it  does  in  private  Life,  that  expenses  have  been  incurred, 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          42  * 

which  might  have  been  avoided.  I  am  of  opinion  that  Mis 
takes  have  been  made  in  the  various  departments  of  the  Gov 
ernment,  mistakes  which  have  been  manifested  by  experience, 
not  the  result  of  ignorance  or  intention,  and  which  in  the 
essence  of  Candor  and  Charity,  are  not  to  be  ascribable  to 
corrupt  Motives,  or  to  be  imputed  as  objects  of  Censure  or 
blame.  In  reflecting  on  the  internal  state  of  this  Country, 
it  is  a  mournful  consideration  that  faction  and  party  spirit 
are  so  prevalent  in  the  States  distinctly,  between  the  States, 
and  in  the  public  Councils.  I  mean  not  however  to  make  any 
observations  on  the  state  of  parties  in  the  Country.  Much  of 
our  attention  is  called  to  the  internal  state  of  the  Western 
Country.  I  mean  the  Country  from  Erie,  west  of  Pennsyl 
vania,  Kentuckee,  Tennese  and  Georgia,  and  the  Journeying 
over  the  reserve  and  North  Western  Territory  -  -  the  Army 
Lands  and  the  Ranges  --  and  the  Mississippi  Territory,  and 
along  the  Yazzou  &  the  Bigby  is  more  frequent  here  than  in 
your  Court  or  in  the  General  Assembly.  O  speculation,  thou 
fell  destroyer,  of  domestic  peace,  and  introducer  of  multi- 
farius  ills,  what  hast  the  Country  done,  to  deserve  thy  curses. 
Here  I  might  go  on,  and  try  to  demonstrate  that  the  active 
spirit  and  enterprize  of  the  American  mind  should  have  been 
confined  by  the  Ohio  &  the  mountains  and  curve  the  Gov 
ernment  for  Indian  Wars,  and  emigrations  &c  &c,  but  I  have 
neither  the  intent  or  inclination:  and  yet  I  am  of  opinion 
that  experience  shews  that  the  encouragements  for  settle 
ments  have  been  too  great  &  the  emigrations  too  numerous.  - 

I  say  nothing  of  the  Reserve,  only  it  is  in  the  hands  of  a 
sensible  Committee,  and  we  are  waiting  the  conclusion  of  the 
Negotiation  with  New  York.  Sixty  four  townships  of  Army 
Lands  have  this  day  been  drawn  for,  and  these  will  of  course 
be  in  the  Markett,  I  suppose  the  warrants  were  generally 
sold  by  the  Soldiery  and  that  the  Lands  are  the  property  of 
speculators.  The  Northwestern  territory  embraces  an  estate 
of  about  Nine  hundred  Miles.  They  have  a  Delegate  in  this 
Congress  and  have  many  wants  and  wishes,  the  Inhabitants 
are  about  70,000,  and  many  of  them  are  on  Lands  which 
Judge  Simns  contracted  with  the  United  States  to  purchase, 
sold  to  Settlers  —  and  failing  to  fulfil  is  unable  to  give  a  title. 


422          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

These  settlers  are  importunate,  and  must  be  quieted  for  you 
can  no  more  drive  them  off,  than  their  Neighbours  the  Squir 
rels  and  Woodchucks.  There  are  in  the  Western  World 
about  3000  families,  squatting  on  the  Lands  of  the  United 
States.  The  people  of  the  Western  territory,  (I  mean  North 
Western)  are  torn  by  divisions  not  however  of  a  political 
Nature,  there  are  many  contending  Claims  and  Grants  &c. 
It  is  in  contemplation  and  a  Bill  is  reported  to  divide  them 
into  two  territories,  by  a  Line  drawn  north  from  the  Mouth 
of  the  Great  Miami.  The  State  of  Georgia  have  opened  a 
Commission  to  treat  with  and  cede  to  the  United  States,  a 
part  of  their  Western  territory  which  they  heretofore  sold 
or  pretended  to  sell  and  Commissioners  are  appointed  on  the 
part  of  the  United  States.  The  old  Spanish  and  some  French 
settlers  near  the  Natches  &c  are  petitioning  for  a  confirma 
tion  of  their  Lands  The  Southwestern  territory  and  People 
of  Governor  Sergeant  have  remonstrated  against  him  &  his 
measures,  and  the  affairs  of  Claims  and  the  administration 
of  the  Country  and  the  Laws  &  ordinances,  by  which  it  is 
governed  are  put  by  reference  in  the  hands  of  a  Committee 
-  there  are  twenty  three  different  Classes  of  Claimants  to 
some  parts  of  the  territory  on  the  Mississippi  sold  by  Georgia 
and  refunded  to  the  Bostonians.  It  is  very  desirable  that 
the  inhabitants  on  our  extensive  frontier  should  be  quiet,  and 
regular,  and  their  rights  ascertained  and  they  reduced  to  be 
good,  peaceable  and  efficient  inhabitants.  It  is  however 
difficult  to  tell  what  we  are  to  expect  from  the  transatlantic 
States  or  Country.  The  settlements  are  so  sparse  -  -  the 
unimproved  Lands  are  so  extensive  —  the  interests  of 
Speculators  are  so  diverse  —  and  their  temptations  so  strong 
to  bring  their  own  and  exclude  their  neighbours  Lands  from 
Markett  -  -  and  the  Lands  of  the  United  States  are  some 
times  so  valuable  that  they  ought  not  to  be  sold,  and  at  others 
of  so  little  value  at  present  that  they  ought  to  be  kept,  and 
if  by  chance  any  of  them  are  sold,  they  are  so  often  cheated 
I  am  persuaded  that  we  must  not  much  calculate  on  the  Lands 
as  a  source  of  Revenue  —  and  that  the  principal  returns  of 
Value  which  we  can  expect  will  be  good  industrious  Citi 
zens  — 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         423 

I  have  expressed  myself  in  haste  and  will  bid  you  good 
night,  will  hereafter  tell  you  my  thoughts  on  the  Judiciary 
and  the  foreign  relations  of  our  Country.  I  am  respectfully 
your  friend 

Elizur  Goodrich/' 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington25  Jany  6,  1801 
My  dear  Sir 

I  wrote  you  this  day,  in  the  Capitol  rather  to 
amuse  myself  than  with  an  expectation  to  inform  you  that 
in  my  opinion,  in  case  the  Passions  or  Judgment  of  the  house 
could  not  concur  on  Mr  Jefferson  or  Burr  as  President,  that 
the  Government  had  the  right  &  ought  to  discharge  the  duty 
of  providing  by  Law  for  its  preservation  &  existence." 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Decr  12.  1800 
Dear  Sir 

We  this  morning  have  the  names  of  the  Electors 
of  South  Carolina.  They  are  for  Jefferson  &  Burr,  The 
Majority  was  thirteen.  Nine  federal  members  were  absent 
-  It  was  easy  to  have  joined  Mr  Pinckney  in  a  joint  Vote 
with  Jefferson  He  was  a  Member  of  the  Legislature  &  his 
nice  sense  of  Honour  would  not  suffer  it  -  He  insisted  to 
abide  the  arrangement  of  federal  Men,  So  strong  was  the 
attachment  of  twenty  seven  of  the  Jeffersonians  for  Pinck 
ney,  that  after  all-  they  would  yield  him  up  only  on  his  own 
request.  I  am,  affectionately 

E  Goodrich  - 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Decr  19.  1800. 
Dear  Sir 

I   presume   that  by   this   time,   you   are   over   the 
paroxism  of  disappointment,  and  have  made  up  your  mind, 
25  Congress  transferred  its  sessions  from  Philadelphia  to  Washington 
on  November  17,  1900. 


424          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

to  a  dutiful  submission  to  the  administration,  either  of  Mr 
Jefferson  or  Mr  Burr  as  the  Sovereign  People  in  the  first 
instance,  or  the  House,  may  on  their  failure,  require  —  We 
do  not  yet  hear  from  Kentuckee  or  Tennesee,  and  there  is 
manifestly  an  alarm  in  the  minds  of  our  republican  Brethren, 
lest  there  should  be  an  equi-vote  -  in  that  case  there  (are) 
may  be  three  alternatives,  either  the  Union  must  for  one  year, 
(unless  we  can  agree  on  designating  the  Man)  be  without 
any  other  President,  than  the  President  of  the  Senate,  or  Mr 
Jefferson  must  have  it  and  Mr  Burr  lose  it,  or  Mr  Burr  have  it 
&  Mr  Jefferson  lose  it 

Sufficient  however  for  the  day  are  the  politicks  thereof  - 
and  it  is  several  days  to  the  month  of  February,  and  there 
will  in  case  of  an  equi  vote,  be  full  time  for  reflexion  and 
deliberation,  and  the  choice  is  a  weighty  one,  and  of  course 
will  I  presume  be  duly  weighed  in  case  the  event  should  be 
so  unfortunate,  as  to  present  us  no  election  of  the  people  - 
I  cannot  say  much  on  the  subject  of  the  treaty  -  -  it  is  how 
ever  understood,  not  to  equal  the  expectations  entertained  - 
it  will  be  considered  in  the  Senate  deliberately,  and  I  hope 
their  result,  will  comport  with  the  interests  and  honour  of 
the  United  States. 

I  wish  to  know  the  impressions  on  the  people  -  I  will 
write  as  any  thing  may  occur  -  -  may  write  in  haste  &  things 
which  it  may  not  be  best  to  communicate  to  many  you  will 
exercise  a  sound  discretion  -  I  have  recd  your  Letter  &  am 
respectfully  Elizur  Goodrich/' 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Decr  19*  1800  - 

I  have  written  to  Mr  Twining 

to  call  on  you  for  money  to  the  am*  of  $250  or  less  as  he  shall 
have  occasion,  to  replace  money  I  had  of  him  before  I  left 
home,  the  notice  from  him  was  so  short  that  it  was  impossible 
for  me  to  make  arrangements  for  a  remittance  from  here 
that  would  be  in  season  and  I  am  not  inclined  to  send  a  single 
Dollar  that  is  not  checked  and  perfectly  sound  ag*  fraud  or 
Accident  Mr  Goodrich  inclosed  by  the  same  mail  that  carried 
my  Draft  to  you  $150  to  Mr  Twining  which  was  taken  out 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          425 

of  his  letter  but  the  draft  being  made  payable  to  Mr  Twining 
who  is  known  to  Deacn  Austin  he  is  confident  it  will  not  be 
paid  to  any  other  person  tho  he  did  not  direct  it  to  be  checked 
at  the  office  —  but  Mr  Goodrich,  &  Mr  Twining  and  the  hand 
writing  of  both  being  well  known  at  the  office  there  is  little 
danger  of  a  forged  Indorsement  -  Upon  Mr  Goodrich' s 
producing  a  Certificate  from  the  Collector  he  will  be  able  to 

obtain  a  new  Draft  for  the  Amount 

I  now  forward  you  a  Draft  on  Wm  H.  Imlay  for  $no6.53/ioo 
being  the  amount  of  Dividends  of  Public  Stock  which  he  is 

impowered  by  me  to  receive  at  the  office  - 

It  will  be  well  for  you  to  direct  Mr  Imlay 

by  his  Indorsement  to  make  the  Draft  payable  only  to  your 
self,  and  upon  your  personal  application  and  to  notify  Deacon 
Austin  of  the  Draft  and  caution  him  against  paying  the  same 
to  any  other  person  -  The  Business  then  may  be  done  with 
perfect  safety  through  the  mail  and  the  money  placed  in  your 
hands  as  soon  as  the  Dividends  of  the  Quarter  fall  due  — 

We  have  accounts  from  all  the  States 

excepting  Kentucky  and  Tenisee  of  the  Votes  for  P.  &  V.  P. 
and  find  that  Jefferson  &  Burr  hitherto  have  an  equal  vote 
and  probably  will  throughout  it  will  be  a  tough  business  for 
the  N.  E.  States  to  be  brought  to  choose  between  the  two  - 
they  would  I  believe  be  of  the  opinion  of  Laribe,  of  two 
evils  to  take  neither  -  Mr  Jay  is  nominated  Chief  Justice 
of  the  U.  S.  in  place  of  Elsworth  resigned  -  The  French 
treaty  is  now  before  us:  it  will  not  be  hastily  concurred  in, 
it  requires  and  I  doubt  not  will  have  the  most  mature  con 
sideration  - 

With  sentiments  of  Esteem  and  great  Regard,  I  am  Dear 

Your  Friend  £c 

James  Hillhouse." 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Decr  25.  1800 
Dear  Sir. 

The  Votes  returned  are  for  Mr  Jefferson  &  Burr 
Seventy  three,  each  -  -  for  Mr  Adams  65  -  -  Mr  Pinckney  64. 


426          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

Mr  Jay  i.  —  And  thus  the  House  of  Representatives  are 
reduced  to  the  Dilemma  of  making  a  President  —  The 
Republicans  began  in  the  Intelligencer  of  last  evening  to 
appreciate  the  pretensions  of  Mr  Jefferson  &  depreciate  those 
of  Mr  Burr  —  They  say  that  if  Mr  Burr  is  elected  he  will 
accept  and  then  resign  to  Mr  Vice  President  Jefferson.  I 
am  affectionately 

E  Goodrich  " 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Decr  31.  1800 
My  dear  Sir 

I  suppose  this  will  find  you  in  Court,  and  busy, 
I  wish  however  that  you  would  devote  part  of  an  evening  in 
telling  me  what  is  to  be  done  in  these  evil  times,  leaving  me 
after  all  to  do  as  you  know  I  must  after  all,  just  what  I  think 
best  -  We  are  soon  to  select  a  President  of  the  United 
States  —  What  are  the  impressions  of  the  serious  the  cool 
and  dispassionate  -  -  the  warm  &  zealous  among  federal 
Men  -  You  have  the  Court  with  you  -  -  and  of  course  can 
find  their  sentiments  -  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Bar  -  -  Mer 
chants  &c  &c  -  -  pray  write  me,  it  shall  be  in  Confidence  the 
individual  sentiments  you  find  - 

The  nomination  of  Mr  Dexter  as  Secretary  of  the  Treas 
ury,  is  I  fear  an  unfortunate  event  -  Mr  Steele  is  an  able 
Man,  well  qualified  for  the  office  -  -  it  is  very  important  to 
hold  Mr  Steele  to  the  northern  section,  as  his  influence  is 
immense  in  North  Carolina.  It  has  made  an  impression  or 
rather  wound  on  the  Gentlemen  of  that  State  -  -  and  the 
danger  is,  not  that  the  active  federalists  will  become  demo 
crats,  but  that  (they)  will  be  inactive  —  indeed  North 
Carolina  have  as  little  inducement  to  support  the  present 
northern  commercial  arrangements  as  any  State  in  the  Union 

-  and  every  thing  is  operating  to  divide  the  federal  states 
against  each  other.     You  will  keep  this  to  yourself  &  friends 

-  The  treaty  is  attended  with  some  difficulties,     The  weighty 
objection  is  the  asylum  of  Privateers    this  article  by  the  true 
construction  of  the  Law  of  Nations  is  void  in  my  opinion,  as 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         427 

interfering  with  a  prior  public  treaty  —  but  it  is  unquestion 
ably  the  opinion  of  the  French  that  the  old  treaty  exists  — 
the  second  Article  leaves  it  to  discussion  &  only  suspends  its 
operation  -  -  they  therefore  will  claim  the  priority  and  the 
British  will  claim  the  priority  --  and  in  the  event  of  the  con 
tinuance  of  war,  between  these  Nations  -  -  we  must  in  case 
of  an  unqualified  Nulification  be  involved  —  Give  my 
respects  to  Mra  Baldwin.  I  am  affectionately 

E  Goodrich/' 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Jany  6  1801. 

"It  appears  to  be  apprehended  by  some  — 

that  it  is  possible  that  the  votes  of  the  Electors  may  come 
forth  different  from  expectation  -  It  is  observable  that  the 
Electors  do  not  return  Ballots,  but,  make  Certificates  of  the 
number  of  Votes,  and  of  course  that  each  Elector  must  know 
the  vote  of  each  of  his  Collegues  --  and  it  is  well  known  that 
in  each  of  the  Bodies  of  Electors  -  -  there  were  individuals, 
who  would  not  suffer  Concealment  -  -  it  must  throughout 
be  taken  for  granted,  that  Mr  J  &  B  have  each  Twenty  three 
Votes  -  -  and  the  second  Wednesday  of  the  next  month  must 
determine  their  pretensions  —  A  failure  of  Election  would 
be  an  immense  evil  -  -  the  Government  however  would  not 
die  -  -  the  Senate  will  still  exist  with  their  president  pro 
tempore  -  -  for  instance  a  President  pro  tempore  elected  in 
the  absence  of  the  Vice  President  on  the  first  day  of  March 
will  continue  the  protemporaneous  President  of  the  Senate 
-  untill  a  Vice  President  is  elected,  or  another  protem 
poraneous  one  is  made  his  Successor  -  The  House  of  Reps 
indeed  expires  -  -  by  a  succession  of  individuals  -  -  with  new 
Commissions  —  but  the  Senate  is  a  permanent  Body  with 
popular  succession  -  -  and  have  the  same  Secretary  &c  with 
out  reappointment  -  -  of  course  in  case  of  no  Elections  by 
the  Reps  a  President  of  the  Senate  will  exist  to  administer 
the  Government  -  -  in  case  the  vacancy  happens  in  fact  — 
from  removal  disability  &c  as  provided  in  the  constitution 
Should  the  vacancy  be  considered  as  not  resulting  from  one 


428          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

of  these  constitutional  defects  -  -  what  is  to  be  done  -  I 
answer  Government  has  the  power  of  Self  preservation,  and, 
if  there  is  no  existing  Law  for  its  preservation,  one  should  be 
made  founded  on  the  more  general  powers  of  the  Constitu 
tion  than  that  contained  in  the  section  on  which  the  existing 
Law  is  founded 

I  am  respectfully  Elizur  Goodrich/' 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Jany  8,  1801 
Dear  Sir 

Inclosed  are  some  observations  which  are  confined 
exclusively  to  that  business  of  Mr  Whitney.  As  he  has  had 
to  contend  with  much  ignorance,  and  some  malice  I  have 
written  it,  with  a  view  that  you  may  read  or  show  it  to  any 
person  or  persons,  you  think  proper 

I  am  respectfully  E  Goodrich" 

Eli  Whitney  of  New  Haven  is  the  person  referred  to  in  the 
foregoing  letter.  He  was  the  first  to  introduce  in  this  coun 
try  the  manufacture  of  firearms  made  by  machinery  in  inter 
changeable  parts,  so  that  a  part  lacking  in  any  arm  could  be 
instantly  supplied  at  the  factory.  The  following  letters  refer 
to  his  negotiations  with  the  United  States  in  regard  to  their 
use  in  the  army  and  the  militia : 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin, 

"Washington  Jany  8,  1801. 
My  dear  Sir. 

Our  friend,  Mr  Whitney  is  here,  and  has  exhib 
ited  his  work  and  specimens  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  the  Heads  of  Departments  and  many  others  of 
superior  mechanical  information  -  They  have  met  uni 
versal  approbation  &  are  considered  as  evincing,  that  this 
Country  need  not  depend  on  a  disgraceful  recourse  to  foreign 
Markets  for  this  primary  means  of  defence  -  All  Judges 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          429 

&  Inspectors,  unite  in  a  declaration  that  they  are  superior  to 
any  which  the  Artists  of  this  Country,  or  importation  have 
brought  into  the  Arsenals  of  the  United  States  -  -  and  all 
Men  of  all  parties  agree  that  his  talents  are  of  immense 
importance,  and  must  be  exclusively  secured  by  and  devoted 
to  the  means  of  defence  -  The  arrangements  will  be  made 
perfectly  satisfactory  to  him  -  -  and  he  is  requested  as  the 
Artist  of  this  Country  to  suggest  from  time  to  time  all  altera 
tions,  improvement  &c  which  may  in  his  opinion,  be  useful 
in  the  Armories  of  the  United  States  &c  -  We  last  evening 
waited  upon  Mr  Jefferson,  in  pursuance  of  a  previous  appoint 
ment  -  He  had  while  in  France  &  England  by  direction  of 
this  Government  perticularly  attended  to  the  Manufacture 
of  Arms  -  On  a  very  critical  survey  and  examination  he  did 
not  hesitate  to  say,  that  he  had  in  no  instance  seen  any  work 
or  specimens  equal  to  Mr  Whitneys,  excepting  in  one  factory 
in  France  in  which  the  owner  had  desined  the  various  parts 
of  his  Muskets  on  the  principles  of  Mr  Whitney  that  Mr 
Whitney  equalled  his  specimens  -  -  that  his  were  gaged  and 
made  by  machinery  -  -  and  he  should  greatly  delight  to  see 
them  with  their  mechanism  -  -  that  by  Authority  of  this 
Country  at  a  great  price  he  attempted  to  remove  this  Artist 
to  the  United  States  --  but  he  was  immediately  taken  into  the 
service  of  the  Crown,  and  had  since  deceased  —  He  observed 
that  the  manufacture  of  Arms,  even  at  a  double  expence 
must  be  secured,  that  Arms  however  of  equal  goodness  could 
not  be  so  cheaply  procured  from  any  part  of  Europe  -  he 
observed  that  the  State  of  Virginia  had  determined  to  fur 
nish  at  the  expence  of  the  State  —  a  Muskett  to  each  Militia 
man  in  the  State  -  -  and  to  have  an  equal  quantity,  in  their 
arsenals  -  -  that  they  had  directed  them  to  be  exclusively  of 
the  Manufacture  of  this  Country  —  that  they  had  good  work, 
but  not  so  good  work  from  the  State  factory  in  Richmond  — 
He  proposed  to  Mr  Whitney  -  -  that  he  would  write  to  Govr 
Monroe,  advising  him  to  contract  with  him  at  the  United 
States  price  -  for  any  number  of  thousands,  which  Mr 
Whitney  would  undertake  to  furnish  -  -  Mr  W-  -  informed 
him  that  it  would  not  be  in  his  power  to  contract,  untill  his 
contract  with  Government  was  more  nearly  compleated." 


430         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Jany  16.  1801  - 

.  .  I  wrote  you  some  days  since  that  W  Whitney  has  given 
full  satisfaction  that  his  theories  are  practical  -  I  believe 
he  has  agreed  that  he  shall  have  thirty  months  for  the  delivery 
&  shall  immediately  have  D  10,000,  or  15,000  -  He  is  now 
negotiating  on  the  subject  of  further  security  for  the  advance 
ment  I  do  not  know  whether  he  will  ultimately  be  able  to 
obtain  it  without  giving  security  -  -  it  would  be  a  receding 
from  the  general  principle  of  the  office  -  -  and  on  the  other 
hand  it  will  subject  him  to  some  inconvenience  -  I  presume 
he  will  complete  the  business  so  as  to  proceed  without  embar- 
rasment  --  He  is  now  at  the  Office  - 

The  presidential  election  is  a  matter  of  importance  —  I 
cant  say  what  we  can  do  -  -  have  written  a  Letter  to  Mr 
Daggett  on  that  subject  which  he  will  shew  you.  I  am  in 
the  Hall,  in  the  noon  of  business  &  am  Yours  respectfully 

E  Goodrich  " 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Jany  3  Ist  1801 

.  .  We  have  appointed  Mr  Marshall,  Secretary  of  State, 
Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States  -  -  I  wish  it  had  been  Mr 
Patterson,  I  think  it  a  pitty  that  the  feelings  of  so  honorable 
and  able  a  Judge  should  be  wounded,  as  I  have  no  doubt  he 
will  be  by  having  a  younger  man,  and  a  younger  Lawyer,  not 
more  eminent  in  that  line,  put  over  his  head  -  Mr  Stockton 
has  utterly  refused  to  be  Secretary  of  War,  and  our  Friend 
Roger  Griswold  is  nominated  in  his  place,  who  will  also 
decline  the  appointment  -  Thus  you  see  the  great  offices  of 
State  go  begging  -  It  is  to  me  a  very  singular  mode  of 
proceeding  that  a  Gentlemans  name  should  be  made  use  of 
in  this  way  without  being  notified  of  the  intention,  or  any 
ascertainment  of  the  fact  whether  he  will  accept  the  office, 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         43 l 

especially  when  on  the  ground,  and  can  with  so  much  con 
venience  be  consulted  — 

The  Senate  are  endeavouring  to  agree  on  a  substitute  to 
the  Mausoleum  by  way  of  amendment  of  the  Bill  from  the 
House  of  Representatives  —  I  am  very  sorry  to  differ  in 
opinion  with  my  Friends  on  subject  that  has  the  most  remote 
relation  to  the  fame  of  Washington,  but  I  cannot  agree  to  the 
Bill  for  creating  a  Mausoleum." 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Thursday  Morning  i  o  Clock  —  Feby  12.  1801 
The  Twentieth  Ballot  has  just  closed     they  have  been  uni 
formly  eight  for  Jefferson  six  for  Burr  —  &  two  divided  — 
A  Ballot  is  ordered  every  hour  -  -  and  we  arise  from  the 
floor  and  ballot  &c  and  then  take  a  Nap  -      the  Mail  usually 
closes  at  4  in  the  evening,     it  is  by  order  of  the  Speaker  kept 
open  till  4  this  morning  -      it  is  not  probable  there  will  before 
that  be  any  Change  -  -  should  there  be,  I  shall  write  some 
of  you     I  am 

EG—" 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Feby  2.  1801. 

.  .  A  Committee  of  sixteen  is  raised  to  report  rules  to 
regulate  the  counting  of  the  votes  -  -  and  the  further  choice 
of  a  President  -  It  is  difficult  to  tell  you  the  result  -  -  and 
I  have  not  leasure  to  detail  those  reasons,  which  must  have 
occurred  to  your  mind  &  which  will  probably  induce  at  least 
New  England  to  prefer  Mr  Burr  to  Mr  Jefferson  —  — 

It  is  expectable  that  there  will  not  be  a  choice  on  the  first 
ballot :  it  is  not  however  certain  -  You  will  know  that  the 
choice  may  be  cast  by  a  few  individuals  and  as  yet  their  con 
clusive  determinations  are  not  known  — " 

A  vacancy  was  at  this  time  anticipated,  though  none 
actually  occurred,  in  the  position  of  Collector  of  the  Port  of 


432         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

New  Haven.  Mr.  Baldwin  had  been  active  in  circulating 
a  petition  that  the  place  might  be  given  to  Elizur  Goodrich, 
then  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington,  Feby  16,  1801 
My  dear  Sir : 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  your  Letter  with  its 
inclosure  this  morning.  -  -  and  thank  you  and  Mr  Twining 
for  your  friendly  attention,  and  also  the  Gentlemen  who  have 
so  honorably  favoured  me  with  their  Signatures  Should  I 
determine  to  push  for  the  object  they  will  be  of  much  avail  — 
otherwise  they  will  be  equal  valuable  as  a  testimony  of  esteem 
and  friendship  - 

I  had  indeed,  untill  the  receipt  of  your  Letter,  pretty  much 
determined  to  take  a  couple  of  trips  on  the  tempestuous  Sea 
of  Liberty  -  -  and  may  still  think  it  advisable  to  continue  on 
board  the  Ship  -  -  at  any  rate  I  dont  think  it  necessary  to 
decide  under  a  couple  of  days  tho'  it  is  possible  a  nomination 
may  be  popped  in  unexpectedly.  I  met  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  a  few  days  since,  before  any  applications  were 
filed,  and  suggested  to  him  the  expediency  of  continuing  the 
business  open,  for  a  few  days,  untill  no  one  could  say  the 
thing  was  done  in  haste  -  I  do  not  know  the  applicants  - 
and  do  not  wish  to  -  -  have  not  had  a  single  Letter  on  the 
subject  -  -  they  probably  think  I  shall  apply  -  -  and  I  do  not 
know  but  I  must  to  save  them  from  disappointment  in  the 
first  particular  -  Should  I  enter  the  race  -  -  I  hold  myself 
open  to  disappointment  without  mortification.  -  -  My  motto 
is  let  those  who  lose,  laugh  -  -  those  who  win,  won't  need  it  — 
Care  has  been  taken  to  continue  the  Clerks  of  the  Circuit 
Courts,  under  the  new  organization  -  -  removable  only  as 
they  now  are  by  the  Court  -  -  I  inclosed  you  an  imperfect 
Bill  some  time  since  —  it  has  probably  gone  as  many  of 
these  things  as  forward,  go  — .  Mr  Benson™  Sturges  & 

26  Egbert  Benson  of  New  York  (Columbia,  Class  of  1765)  ;  Lewis 
B.  Sturges  of  Connecticut  (Yale,  Class  of  1782),  and  Samuel  Hitchcock 
of  Vermont  (Harvard,  Class  of  1777). 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          433 

Hitchcock  are  contemplated  as  the  Judges  of  our  Circuit  but 
not  nominated  -  -  Give  my  respects  to  Mrs.  Baldwin  &  your 
sister  &  family.  I  am  affectionately 

Elizur  Goodrich 
Mention  me  to  Mr  Twining  in  connexion  with  this  Letter" 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Feby  17,  1801 
Dear  Sir 

I  believe  I  mentioned  to  you  in  a  Letter  yesterday 
the  nomination  of  the  Judges  in  our  Circuit  -  We  dare(d) 
not  name  Oliver  Woolcott  :27  the  President  however  thought 
of  him  &  requested  to  know  whether  it  would  be  acceptable 
to  us  -  -  informally  -  we  said  Yes  He  has  this  day  nom 
inated  Mr  Benson,  Oliver  Wolcott,  &  Sam1  Hitchcock  —  I 
wish  you  therefore  to  say  nothing  on  the  nomination  of  Mr 
S  -  for  Connecticut  -  You  are  safe  as  Clerk  -  I  shall 
in  three  days  write  W  -  that  you  must  be  intangible. 

In  haste  E.  Goodrich  " 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Feby  19,  1801. 
Dear  Sir. 

On  the  completion  of  the  Judiciary  Bill,  the  Delega 
tions  of  New  York,  Connecticut  and  Vermont  met  and  agreed 
on  the  nomination28  of  Mess8  B.  (enson)  S.  (turges)  &  H.  (itch- 
cock)  to  the  President  He  afterwards  wished  to  know, 
whether  his  nomination  of  Mr  Wolcott  would  be  acceptable 

-  We  replied  -  -  that  it  would  -  -  and  he  was  nominated  - 
It  was  what  we  wished,  but  dare  not  suggest  —     I  am  of 
opinion  that  he  will  make  an  excellent  Judge  -      in  pleadings 

27  Mr.  Wolcott  (Yale,  Class  of  1778)  was  just  going  out  of  office 
as   Secretary  of  the  Treasury.     President  Adams  and  he  had  had 
serious  political  disagreements. 

28  For  Judges  of  the  newly-constituted  Circuit  Court. 


434         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786—184.6 

&  Tecknics  he  will  not  be  at  first  ready  but  in  great  questions 
of  national  Law  —  insurance  —  commerce  &c  he  will  be 
excellent  and  that  at  his  Age  &c  he  is  a  very  desirable  acqui 
sition  —  I  hope  you  will  appreciate  &  consider  it  as  such  — 
I  am  respectfully 

Elizur  Goodrich." 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Feby  19.  1801. 
My  dear  Sir. 

I  wrote  you  yesterday  somewhat  hastily,  that 
the  President  had  been  pleased  to  nominate  me,  as  Collector 
for  the  Port  of  New  Haven  -  Should  the  Senate  concur  — 
it  is  expectable  that  my  purposes  are  to  accept  the  appoint 
ment  -  At  a  time  when  the  public  mind  is  so  much  agitated 
—  various  conjectures  are  formed  relative  to  the  measures 
of  the  future  Administration  —  especially  relative  to  the  vast 
changes  which  will  be  made  in  the  various  offices  of  Govern 
ment  -  -  where  the  officers  are  removable  by  the  President  — 
and  some  of  my  friends  may  apprehend  that  as  the  President 
and  I  shall  likely  think  differently  on  political  subjects  — 
that  he  must  certainly  remove  me  from  office  -  -  that  he  may 
do  it  for  this  cause  is  certain  —  that  he  will  do  it  is  not  to 
me  very  probable 

Having  some  interest  in  the  question,  I  have  taken  some 
pains  to  ascertain  what  is  expectable  on  that  point,  from  the 
Administration  —  Men  of  Candour  and  intelligence,  and  who 
are  likely  to  be  correct  in  their  opinions  &  differing  from  me 
in  political  opinions,  dont  hesitate  to  say  —  that  the  President 
elect,  will  claim  to  himself  the  nomination  of  Foreign  Min 
isters  and  the  heads  of  Departments  —  that  as  to  others,  he 
is  hurt  at  the  apprehension,  that  he  will  remove  them  — 
Federal  Gentlemen  of  the  Senate  have  within  a  few  days, 
conversed  with  the  President  Elect,  on  this  question  as'  a 
question  -  He  has  observed,  that  as  to  these  higher  offices, 
it  would  seem  to  him  reasonable  —  that  they  should  be  of 
his  choice  —  that  as  to  the  others  holding  appointments  — 
no  Man  could  be  fit  to  be  President  of  the  United  States  — 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         435 

who  would  undertake  their  removal,  for  a  difference  of  polit 
ical  opinion  -  -  that  vacancies  ought  to  be  at  his  command 
—  I  apprehend  that  this  is  the  Line  of  Conduct  which  is  cal 
culated  upon  as  a  branch  of  the  future  administration  —  I 
cannot  say  whether  I  shall  quit  before  or  tarry  till  the  end 
of  the  Session  -  Present  respects  to  M"  B  &  your  Sister 
&  in  any  event  believe  me 

Yours  affectionately, 

Elizur  Goodrich." 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"City  of  Washington  Feby  4th  -  -  1802 
Dear  Sir  - 

.  .  The  Bill  for  repealing  the  Judiciary  Act  of  last  Session 
has  passed  the  Senate  -  The  enclosed  is  the  Bill  as  reported 
by  the  Select  Committee,  which  underwent  some  small  amend 
ments  in  mere  matters  of  form:  the  Vote  was  15  to  16  - 
I  fully  agree  with  you  that  the  constitutionality  security  of 
the  independence  of  the  Judges  is  a  mere  Cobweb  - 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"City  of  Washington  Feby  ioth  1802 
Dear  Sir  - 

Your  favor  of  the  Qth  Ins1  has  been  duly  received 
-  I  fully  agree  with  you  that  our  affairs  are  drawing  to  a 
crisis  that  is  truly  critical  and  alarming  -  In  the  conflict 
of  party,  reason  and  argument  are  altogether  unavailing,  and 
have  not  the  smallest  influence  in  the  decision  of  any  question 
or  measure  that  is  taken  up  in  Congress  -  The  House  of 
Representatives  are  now  engaged  in  a  very  interesting  Debate 
on  the  Bill  from  the  Senate  for  repealing  the  Judiciary 
System  of  last  session,  which  is  expected  to  last  for  many 
days  -  -  but  I  have  not  the  smallest  expectation  or  hope  that 
the  vote  of  a  single  member  will  be  changed  by  the  most 
impressive  Eloquence,  or  Arguments  the  most  conclusive  — 
All  Questions  are  settled  in  private  meetings,  and  every 


436          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

member  composing  the  majority  of  both  houses  comes 
pledged  to  support  the  measures  so  agreed  on  —  This  being 
the  case  I  feel  as  tho  my  presence  or  services  here  are  of 
little  importance  to  my  Country  and  I  feel  very  little  inclined 
to  remain  long  in  this  Sittuation  —  A  Country  is  indeed  in 
,an  unfortunate  Sittuation  when  its  dearest  and  most  impor 
tant  Interests  are  to  be  sacrificed  to  the  triumph  of  Party  — " 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"City  of  Washington  Febry  IIth  1802 
Dear  Sir  — 

The  House 

of  Representatives  have  agreed  to  a  Resolution  for  abolishing 
the  Mint  --  and  have  made  the  Bill  which  passed  the  Senate 
on  the  subject  of  the  Judiciary  the  Order  of  the  day  for 
Monday  next  -  I  think  there  is  very  little  prospect,  and  I 
may  indeed  say  there  is  no  hope  of  arresting  that  measure 
The  MINISTERIALISTS,  (as  they  are  called  in  the  News 
papers,  and  very  properly  in  my  opinion,  for  never  were  a  set 
of  men  more  blindly  devoted  to  the  Will  of  a  prime  Mover  or 
Minister  than  are  the  majority  of  both  Houses  to  the  Will 
and  Wishes  of  the  Chief  Magistrate)  are  determined  to  carry 
into  effect  every  Measure  recommended  in  the  Message  — 
Pointing  out  the  impolicy  or  impropriety  of  a  measure  has  as 
little  effect  in  stoping  their  progress,  as  to  shew  it  to  be 
Unconstitutional  -  I  think  that  if  our  side  shall  make  a 
Valiant,  tho  unsuccessful  defence  of  the  Constitution  they 
will  merit  the  appellation  of  CONSTITUTIONALIST— 

David  Daggett  to  Simeon  Baldwin  at  Washington. 

"New  Haven,  Novr  13th  1802. 
"Dear  Sir 

Yours  of  8th  covering  the  Message  is  received,  for 
which  I  thank  you.  The  Message  is  the  most  foolish  pro 
duction  that  I  ever  saw  considering  the  occasion.  It 
certainly  is  not  superior  to  one  of  William  Carters  law  argu 
ments  before  Alderman  Jones  when  you  and  I  used  to  petty- 
fog  with  him.  —  The  disquisition  respecting  the  gun  boats 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         437 

is  the  only  part  of  it  worth  preserving,  &  that  I  think  might 
be  kept  by  a  quantum  sufficit  of  Salt  from  his  mountain. 

Mr  D.  and  his  warm  friends  affect  to  censure 

my  conduct  in  favouring  Rossiters  views  —  my  answer  to 
them  is  short  and  the  only  one  they  will  have,  Viz,  that  I 
did  not  think  it  very  proper  that  two  or  three  gentlemen  of 
the  bar  should  have  the  sole  agency  of  appointing  a  Sheriff  — 
it  appeared  to  me  reasonable  that  Mr  Ingersoll,  Mr  Goodrich, 
Mr  Baldwin  Mr  Smith  &  perhaps  Mr  D.  should  have  been 
consulted  -  As  however  a  different  course  was  taken,  I 
thought  it  best  to  give  my  opinion.  -  Of  the  gentlemen  of 
the  bar  only  one  third  signed  the  petition.  - 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

City  of  Washington  Feby  ioth  -  -  1803  — 

.  .  I  find  you  are  to  have  a  great  Festival  at  New  Haven 
on  the  9th  of  March  -  I  think  the  Ladies  must  feel  them 
selves  highly  honored  with  so  polite  and  respectful  an  Invita 
tion  from  such  a  quarter  especially  when  they  are  assured 
that  private  Houses  are  provided  for  their  Accommodation  - 

I  trust  the  Ladies  of  New  Haven  will  on  this  occasion 
exercise  their  wonted  discretion  and  prudence." 

A  week  later  he  writes  him  again  on  the  same  subject : 

"I  have  indeed  seen  the  Proclamation  for  the  Festival  on 
the  9th  of  March  which  I  doubt  not  will  meet  the  attention  it 
deserves  from  the  People  of  Connecticut  -  It  in  my  opinion 
Amounts  to  a  declaration  of  open  hostility  to  the  Morality, 
Order,  and  Steady  Habits  of  Connecticut  and  will  I  think 
develop  the  Views  of  the  party  to  every  Man  who  can  read  — 
The  well  known  disposition  of  our  Friends  at  New  Haven  I 
have  no  doubt  will  lead  them  to  a  correct  course  of  conduct 
on  this  Occasion  - 

29  This  refers  to  the  appointment,  in  November,  1804,  by  the  Gov 
ernor  and  Council,  of  Nathaniel  Rossiter  (Yale,  Class  of  1785)  as 
Sheriff  of  New  Haven  County. 


438         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

Simeon  Baldwin  from  Washington  to  Judge  Lewis.  Decem 
ber  5,  1804. 

"Dear  Sir 

.  .  Congress  have  as  yet  done  very  little  business  —  & 
have  finished  less  - 

The  articles  of  Impeach*  against  Judge  Chase  were  carried 
in  our  House  by  an  average  of  about  80  to  40  —  he  will 
probably  be  tried  the  beginning  of  next  month  -  the  prob 
ability  is  he  will  be  removed  -  The  manners  of  Judge  Chase 
you  know  are  far  from  conciliating  —  the  prejudice  is  great 
against  him  &  less  proof  would  perhaps  be  required  to  estab 
lish  some  of  the  Items  against  him,  than  would  be  required 
against  others.  - 

General  Rufus  Putnam  of  Revolutionary  fame  was  re 
moved  from  the  office  of  Surveyor  General  of  the  United 
States  in  September,  1803,  in  order  to  replace  him  by  a  man 
of  different  political  views.  As  his  successor,  Col.  Jared 
Mansfield  (Yale,  Class  of  1777)  of  New  Haven  was 
appointed.  He  accepted  the  appointment  in  ignorance  of 
the  fact  that  Putnam  had  not  voluntarily  retired  but,  on 
learning  the  truth,  wrote  to  Mr.  Baldwin  on  November  7th, 
stating  fully  the  reasons  which  had  led  to  the  course  which 
he  had  adopted.  To  this  the  following  reply  was  sent,  under 
date  of  January  16,  1804: 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Jared  Mansfield. 

"No  one,  I  am  confident,  would  doubt  the  pro 
priety  of  your  late  appointment,  provided  the  office  had  been 
vacant  -  Your  scientific  pursuits  and  particularly  your 
devotion  to  the  studies  of  mathematics,  astronomy,  &c.,  have 
peculiarly  fitted  you  for  such  an  employment  -  -  and  I  flatter 
myself  that  much  useful  information  will  be  derived  from 
your  discoveries  &  observations  while  in  the  discharge  of 
your  official  duties.  -  These  sentiments  I  shall  ever  with 
pleasure  communicate  in  defence  of  the  appointment.  —  Yet 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         439 

I  frankly  own  I  should  have  been  better  pleased  had  you 
proceeded  on  the  resignation  of  your  predecessor  —  This 
business  of  removing  Officers  at  the  whim  of  the  Executive 
without  enquiring  whether  they  are  honest,  able  &  faithful 
to  the  Constitution,  is  in  my  opinion  dangerous  in  its  conse 
quences  -  It  may  be  ruinous  to  the  officers,  &  prejudicial 
to  our  country  It  is  peculiarly  improper,  I  conceive,  in  a 
Gov*  where  the  Supreme  executive  is  elective  &  for  short 
periods  -  One  glides  into  office  &  is  swept  off  by  a  successor 
as  the  alternate  tides  of  party  succeed  each  other.  —  When 
such  is  the  executive,  the  permanence  of  inferior  offices  seems 
to  be  the  only  anchor  left  for  the  stability  of  Gov*  —  Let  the 
principle  be  established  that  every  successive  President  may 
without  reserve  remove  from  office  all  who  are  not  of  his  own 
political  sentiments,  the  basest  motives  will  then  influence 
your  elections  -  -  the  office  of  Chief  magistrate  will  be  the 
fruit  of  corruption,  &  all  other  offices  the  rewards  of  venality 

-  I  do  consider  the  wanton  abuse  of  the  necessary  power 
of  removal,  as  one  of  the  darkest  traits  in  the  character  of 
our  present  chief  magistrate  -  -  That  those  who  are  the  con 
stitutional  advisers  of  the  executive  should  be  of  the  same 
political  sentiments  with  him  I  readily  admit;  for  a  change 
in  such  officers  I  never  blamed  him  —  but  I  cannot  forgive 
him  for  removing  a  host  of  inferior  officers  who  were  honest, 
faithful  &  capable,  &  whose  political  sentiments  had  no  con 
nexion  with  the  discharge  of  their  official  Duties  -  It  was 
an  extension  of  the  arm  of  power,  that  I  believe  no  prime 
minister,  or  even  monarch  in  Europe  ever  dared  to  use  - 

I  am  happy  to  believe,  as  you  say,  that  you  had  no  agency 
in  the  removal  of  Mr.  Putnam  -  -  he  is  a  gentleman  whom 
I  never  knew  personally,  but  I  learn  he  is  one  of  those  whose 
past  services  entitle  him  to  claim  from  our  Country  those 
remunerations  which  her  Independence  enables  her  to  give 
to  those  who  aided  much  in  its  establishment.  — 

Thus  far  I  wrote  after  the  rec*  of  yours,  but  doubting 
whether  this  chain  of  thought  was  such  as  you  would  expect, 
I  have  suspended  my  Letter,  till  reflection  has  convinced  me 
that  in  answering  yours  I  ought  freely  to  express  my  senti 
ments  on  the  subject  of  it." 


44-O         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

On  February  20,  1804,  Elizur  Goodrich  of  New  Haven, 
whom  Jefferson  displaced  as  collector  of  the  port,  in  1801, 
writes  him  thus : 

"It  is  the  opinion  of  reflecting  men  that  the  affairs  of  the 
Country  are  fast  hastening  to  a  Crisis  -  I  do  not  mean 
that  it  will  probably  happen  in  a  month  or  year  -  -  for  it 
takes  much  time  for  the  great  events  in  a  Nation  to  arrest  the 
attention  of  the  people  of  the  Nation  -  I  trust  however  the 
proceedings  relative  to  Louisiana  &  the  Judiciary,  and  other 
prominent  acts  of  the  Legislature  must  ultimately  excite  the 
attention  and  consequent  Alarm  of  the  Community  -  Names 
are  influential  things  -  -  and  much  has  been  effected  by  the 
term  Democrat  or  republican  -  In  my  opinion  it  is  time  to 
leave  this  distinction,  and  call  the  attention  of  the  people  to 
the  true  point  -  -  the  questions  which  agitate  this  Country 
are  really  northern  and  southern  Interests  -  -  and  as  such 
sooner  or  later  we  must  consider  and  discuss  them.  I  am 
sensible  those  of  you,  who  are  in  Congress,  can't  at  present 
so  discuss  them  in  your  places  --  Still  I  hope  that  the  federal 
men  of  the  North  will  speedily  see,  that  the  Interests  of  the 
North  are  up  at  Auction  and  conduct  accordingly." 

Col.  Benjamin  Tallmadge  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Litchfield,  March  2Oth,  1804 

.  .  The  farcical  Display  of  Candour  &c  &c,  on  the  Trial 
of  Judge  Pickering,  is  sufficient  to  convince  any  unprejudiced 
Mind  of  the  futility  of  defending  Character  properly,  or  even 
Life  against  the  violence  of  party  Spirit.  How  a  man,  con 
fessedly  insane,  can  be  convicted  of  high  Crimes  &  mis 
demeanors,  when  in  the  highest  acts  of  wickedness,  such  as 
murder  &c,  the  operation  of  the  penal  Law  is  suspended,  is 
truly  astonishing.  That  Mr  Pickering  ought  to  leave  his  Seat 
on  the  bench  of  Justice,  seems  not  so  much  to  be  questioned : 
but  that  the  Constitution  does  not  warrant  the  present  mode 
of  trial  &  punishment,  for  such  a  misfortune,  seems  very 
clear  to  my  mind.  I  have  fully  anticipated  the  issue  of  this 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         441 

Tryal ;  &  for  ought  appears  Judge  Chace  may  prepare  him 
self  for  a  similar  event  — 

When  I  left  W. — n  I  really  did  not  apprehend  that  so 
much  opposition  would  have  been  made  to  the  plan  proposed 
for  affording  Compensation  to  the  Georgia  Claimants.  If 
Randolph  should  succeed  in  postponing  this  business  to  the 
next  Session  of  Congress,  the  probability  is  that  no  great 
Compensation  will  ever  be  obtained.  At  any  rate,  this  long 
Delay,  is  almost  a  denial  of  Justice.  Had  W  &  Mre  Payne 
continued  with  you  to  this  Day,  I  think  their  patience  would 
have  been  pretty  thoroughly  tired  -  I  am  glad  that  I  sold 
my  Scrip,  although  some  thought  that  4  Cents  P  Acre  (the 
price  I  obtained  in  money)  was  far  short  of  what  the  Con 
gressional  provision  would  amount  to. 

I  am  glad  Mr  Corse  has  finally  obtained  his  money  from  the 
Gov1;  which  I  believe  was  very  honestly  due  to  him.  In  a 
late  Letter  from  him,  he  expresses  his  grateful  Acknowl 
edgments  to  the  federal  Members,  &  particularly  to  yourself 
-  I  have  long  known  him  to  be  a  Man  of  the  most  unsullied 
honor  &  Integrity  -  

David  Daggett  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"New  Haven  Novr  30.  1804 

"Judd's  address,  written  by  another, 

was  the  joint  production  of  Huntington,  Judd  &  Bishop  — 
more  than  half  of  it  was  taken  from  Bishop's  oration  in  May, 
and  the  residue  we  deem  quite  harmless.  -  My  argument  is 
delayed  by  the  Printer  to  my  great  mortification.  I  prom 
ised  the  copy  to  that  lethargic  Griswold,  to  be  connected  with 
Edwards'30  argument  &  a  history  of  the  proceedings  —  My 
Copy  has  been  ready  more  than  3  weeks,  &  the  printers  were 
waiting  Mr  Edwards'  time  -  They  also  under  the  direction 
of  that  little  stenographer  Bradley  who  is  as  much  below 
your  little  I.  H.  Smith  as  an  oyster  is  below  a  lobster,  pre 
pared  a  title  page  &c  which  appeared  to  me  rather  too  much 
of  the  mongrel  for  a  sound  federalist  -  After  they  had 
stricken  off  2500  half  sheets  with  this  title  page,  I  told  them 

30  Pierpont  Edwards  (Princeton,  Class  of  1768). 


44 2          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

that  my  argument  should  not  accompany  such  stuff  &  they 
threw  it  aside,  and  have  now  promised  to  print  as  speedily 
as  possible  my  argument  without  Mr  Edwards,  who,  it  seems, 
has  not  yet  finished  his.  A  Mr  Steel  is  now  associated  with 
Griswold,  &  J.  Walter  has  joined  them.  Thus  there  is  good 
prospect  of  giving  the  public  some  "antidote"  to  Judds 
pamphlet.  -  I  do  not  learn  that  any  impression  is  made 
against  us  by  this  business  -  Indeed  the  measure  of  a  new 
constitution  certainly  operates  in  our  favour  or  I  am  grossly 
deceived.  The  sober  part  of  democrats  do  not  relish  the 
doings  of  the  convention;  and  some  doubting  minds  have 
been  confirmed  in  federalism." 

The  convention  referred  to  by  Judge  Daggett  was  one 
recently  held  (in  August,  1804),  at  New  Haven,  of  Demo 
cratic  delegates  from  nearly  half  the  towns  in  the  State,  to 
consider  the  expediency  of  taking  steps  to  form  a  State  Con 
stitution.  Major  William  Judd  was  chairman  and  delivered 
an  address  advocating  such  a  measure.  He  was  a  justice 
of  the  peace  and,  with  four  other  justices,  was  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  General  Assembly,  in  October,  to  show 
cause  why  the  commission  of  each  should  not  be  revoked, 
as  they  held  that  the  government  was  an  usurpation,  because 
there  was  no  Constitution  on  which  to  rest  it.  Mr.  Daggett 
argued  before  the  Assembly  for  their  removal,  and  Pierpont 
Edwards  defended  them.  They  were  all  removed,  and  Mr. 
Daggett's  argument  was,  after  the  delays  indicated  in  his 
letter,  printed  before  the  close  of  the  year. 

Jabez  Colton  (Yale,  Class  of  1775)  to  his  brother-in-law, 
Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Longmeadow,  December  3  Ist  1804 

In  your  letter  dated  Nov  17  1804  you  express 

your  sorrow  at  hearing  of  the  prevalence  of  Democracy  in 
this  State.  I  think  this  is  a  matter  of  grief  to  all  well  wishers 
to  the  welfare  of  this  Country.  In  this  County  the  Increase 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         443 

of  Democracy  is  not  much  and  perhaps  remain  nearly  the 
same.  The  People  on  Connecticut  River  in  this  Common 
wealth  are  considerably  like  those  in  Connecticut.  There 
is  considerable  similarity  between  Suffield  and  West  Spring 
field.  The  Counties  of  Berkshire  and  Worcester  are  more 
composed  of  people  whom  we  may  call  rovers  than  in  this 
County  In  those  two  Counties  Democracy  prevails.  We 
keep  more  to  our  old  Habits  being  composed  chiefly  of  the 
descendants  of  old  Settlers.  It  is  uncertain  what  will  take 
place  respecting  our  State  Authority  whether  we  shall  have 
a  new  Governor  the  next  Election  or  not.  We  may  say 
concerning  this  State  The  United  States  and  concerning  all 
other  States  and  Kingdoms,  That  the  Most  High  Rules  in 
the  Kingdoms  of  men  and  gives  them  to  whom  he  pleases 
and  for  the  punishment  of  their  people  Some  times  Sits  over 
them  the  worst  of  men.  Do  we  expect  Rulers  according  to 
our  merits?  Then  we  cant  expect  the  best.  Wicked  men 
will  act  so  inconsistently  as  to  choose  men  like  themselves  to 
rule  over  them.  Wickedness  will  be  its  own  punisher.  Men 
pretend  they  wish  to  choose  the  good  and  at  the  same  time 
prefer  the  wicked  if  they  are  of  like  character.  If  we  have 
no  hopes  but  from  the  goodness  of  the  majority  of  the  present 
inhabitants  of  our  Land  our  prospects  must  be  gloomy."  .  . 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Isaac  Jones  of  New  Haven. 

"Washington  Jany  5th  1805 
Mr  Isaac  Jones 

Sir 

Yours  of  the  2Oth.  ult  I  have  received  &  as 
I  do  not  mean  to  (be)  backward  in  any  neighborly  offices, 
which  as  you  intimate  our  local  situation  indicates,  I  shall 
readily  join  in  a  correspondence  in  the  hope  it  will  administer 

to  the  pleasure  of  each 

.  .  I  have  hitherto  delayed  my  answer  that  I  might  give 
you  some  information  respecting  the  Impeachment  of  Judge 

Chase  which  you  solicited  — 

.  .  You  ask  "my  opinion  of  the  matter,  saying  it  is  a  mat 
ter  of  moment  &  that  you  hope  Congress  will  conduct  the 
Impeachment  with  candor,  honor  &  righteousness.  —  "  .  — 


444         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

It  certainly  is  a  matter  of  moment  I  know  of  no  event 
more  interesting  to  us  as  a  nation,  which  has  taken  place 
under  the  present  administration  -  -  for  I  assuredly  believe 
that  the  Independence  of  the  Judiciary,  which  is  the  boast 
of  our  Constitution,  hangs  on  this  Pivot,  of  course  I  sin 
cerely  reciprocate  your  wish  that  the  trial  may  be  "conducted 
with  Candor,  honor  &  righteousness"  for  if  it  is,  I  believe 
he  will  be  acquitted  &  this  beautiful  feature  of  our  Conn 
saved:  -  If  you  wish  to  know,  my  opinion  is  confined  to 
this  whether  he  ought  to  have  been  impeached  on  the  charges 
exhibited.  I  have  already  recorded  my  vote  decidedly  in  the 
negative  on  the  charges  Separately  and  so  I  believe  did  every 
federal  man;  you  will  hence  I  presume  infer  it  was  a  party 
question  -  It  is  true  it  had  in  some  measure  that  appear 
ance,  as  every  federal  man  voted  against  every  article,  but 
all  the  democrats  did  not  vote  for  every  article  &  many  of 
them  voted  against  several  of  them  hence  altho'  you  &  I 
have  agreed  to  differ  on  some  political  questions,  it  is  not 
necessary  or  certain  we  shall  on  this:  —  especially  as  every 
federalist  &  some  honest  Democrats  have  concurred  with  me 
in  opinion." 

David  Daggett  to  Simeon  Baldwin  at  Washington. 

"Litchfield,  Feby  5  1805 

The  State  is  quiet  regarding  poli 
tics  and  all  are  engaged  more  in  digging  out  of  the  Snow  than 
in  enquiring  into  Mr  Jeffersons  Gun  boats  or  Cap*  Lines's 
tour  up  the  Missouri  -  By  the  way  that  fellow  must  have 
hard  times  if  our  Winter  reaches  him  -  He  will  wish  him 
self  in  Jeffersons  dry  dock.  —  I  wish  I  knew  how  deep  the 
snow  now  is  on  that  Salt  mountain !  !  !  " 

Timothy  Pitkin  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Decr  24th  1805 
Dear  Sir, 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  that  part  of 
the  President's  message,  relative  to  the  aggressions,  com 
mitted  on  our  Coasts,  by  foreign  armed  vessels;  to  the 
defence  of  our  Ports  &c  yesterday,  Reported,  that  it  was 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         445 

expedient  to  appropriate  a  sum  not  exceeding  $150,000,  to 
fortify  our  Harbours,  $250,000,  to  build  Gun-Boats,  &  $660,- 
ooo,  to  build  Six  line-of -battle-Ships.  The  last,  will  produce 
some  collision  among  the  Democrats,  &  the  division,  I  appre 
hend  will  be  Northern  &  Southern.  -  What  the  result  will 
be,  is  uncertain  —  " 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"City  of  Washington  Jany  2d.  1806 

.  .  Tho  there  seems  to  be  a  disposition  in  the  Administra 
tion  to  bluster  a  little  about  defending  our  Nutral  rights, 
and  National  honor,  I  have  no  idea  that  much  will  be  done 
other  than  by  purchase." 

Timothy  Pitkin  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Jany  2d  1806 

.  .  The  President  as  usual,  was  visited  by  those,  who  chose 
to  present  him  their  Compliments,  eat  his  Cake  &  drink  his 
Wine.  -  Three,  however,  only  of  those  called  Federalists, 
chose  to  wait  upon  him  —  As  since  the  commencement  of 
the  Session,  not  one  of  the  Federalists,  have  been  invited  to 
dine  with  him  except  Mr  Adams,  the  Senator,  on  account  of 
his  Wife,  who  dined  with  his  daughter  Mrs  Randolph;  they 
did  not  think  proper  to  do  works  of  superogation.  -  The 
Parties  among  the  Democrats,  have  not  yet  compleatly 
formed;  there  is,  however,  strong  reason  to  believe,  that 
Randolph  will  not  bear,  with  Bidwell31  very  long  -  The 
object  of  Bidwell  is  to  be  primus  inter  pares,  immediately, 
&  you  may  be  assured,  it  will  not  be  submitted  to,  with 
patience  -  The  Secret  Committee  have  not  yet  reported,  & 
the  subject  of  building  the  six  line  of  Battle  ships  has  not 
yet  been  taken  up;  on  this  subject  there  will  be  a  serious 
division  among  us  —  &  how  it  will  be  carried  is  uncertain  — 

31Barnabus  Bidwell  (Yale,  Class  of  1785),  then  a  Representative 
in  Congress  from  Massachusetts.  He  had  been  a  Federalist,  but  was 
now  a  Democrat. 


446         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

I  apprehend,  there  will  be  only  a  rumor  of  Wars  after  all.  — 
It  is  evident  that  Randolph  &  the  Southern  Demos,  are  will 
ing  to  depreciate  the  merits  of  Genl  Eaton  as  much  as  pos 
sible,  &  it  is  very  doubtful,  whether  the  Resolution  for  a 
medal  will  be  carried.  —  This  Resolution  was  brought  for 
ward  by  Bidwell,  without  much  consultation  or  consideration, 
-  &  mainly  for  the  purposes  of  his  own  popularity  —  The 
first  Resolution  proposed  to  give  him  a  Sword  only,  (which 
was  given  to  the  midshipmen  under  Preble,)  being  corrected 
by  those  who  were  acquainted  with  the  etiquette  in  such  cases, 
Bidwell  then  moved  to  insert  medal,  instead  of  sword  -  This 
was  but  just  carried,  &  the  Resolution  was  then  recommitted." 

Timothy  Pitkin  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Feby  i<f  1806 
My  dear  Sir, 

I  have  duly  received  yours  of  the  Instant,  &  am 
very  happy  to  be  able  to  congratulate  you  &  Mrs  Baldwin 
on  the  birth  of  another  daughter.  I  wish  I  could  congratu 
late  you,  on  the  increase  of  national  Spirit,  as  well  as  on  the 
increase  of  national  population.  - 

The  House,  as  yet,  have  not  exerted  their  energy  in  any 
hostile  measures.  Information  is  called  for,  from  .the 
Genevan?2"  relative  to  the  state  of  our  Commerce  with  Great 
Britain  &  her  dependencies ;  in  order  to  shew,  in  what  man 
ner  our  Commerce  may  be  affected,  &  to  what  extent  our 
Revenues  diminished.  -  This  information  we  have  not  yet 
received/' 

Timothy  Pitkin  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Feby  25th  1806 
My  dear  Sir, 

Permit  me  to  inform  you,  that,  yesterday,  in  the 
Senate,  Pierpont  Edwards  Esq  was  appointed  District  Judge 
for  the  District  of  Connecticut.  — 

32  Albert  Gallatin,   Secretary  of   the  Treasury,   who   was  born   in 
Geneva,  Switzerland. 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         447 

Whether  he  will  accept  or  not,  I  have  not  heard  —  If 
he  does,  I  presume  it  must  be  in  the  expectation,  &  perhaps, 
with  the  assurance  of  succeeding  Judge  Gushing  or  some 
other  Judge  in  the  Supreme  Court.  But  whether  he,  or  some 
other  Democrat  fills  the  place  of  the  late  Judge  Law,  I  pre 
sume  it  is  not  hard  to  conjecture  with  some  degree  of  cer 
tainty  who  will  not  be  Clerk.  — 

The  Senate  have  agreed  to  recommend  to  the  President, 
a  negotiation  with  Great  Britain,  &  a  demand  of  indemnifica 
tion  for  aggressions,  agreeable  to  the  Resolutions  reported 
to  them,  but  you  have  undoubtedly  seen  the  Resolutions  in 
the  papers.  -  We  had  before  us,  yesterday,  a  Bill  from  the 
Senate,  prohibiting  all  intercourse  with  St  Domingo;  so 
eager  were  the  Democrats  to  pass  the  Bill,  that  although  it 
was  laid  on  our  Table  yesterday,  they  were  determined  to  get 
it  through  the  same  day,  &  it  was  with  difficulty  postponed 
till  to  day  -  It  has  been  again  called  for,  &  I  expect  it  will 
pass  soon.  - 

The  reasons  given  for  this  hurry,  were,  that  Bonaparte 
had  demanded  a  prohibition  of  this  Commerce,  &  it  was 
important  to  comply  with  his  mandate,  with  promptitude. 
We  are  too  tame,  even  to  be  worth  conquering  —  What 
course  our  Spirit  will  eventually  take,  in  our  relations  with 
Great  Britain,  is  uncertain  —  the  various  non  importation 
projects  have  not  yet  been  taken  up  -  The  opinions  are  as 
various  as  the  projects,  &  will  probably  end  in  mere  rant  & 


noise" 


Benjamin  Tallmadge  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  Feby  25th  1806. 

.  .  The  St.  Domingo  Bill  has  passed  the  Senate  &  now  lies 
before  our  House.  I  apprehend  it  will  pass  the  House  of 
Representatives  this  day,  &  without  much  Debate  —  It  is 
to  me  a  most  humiliating  Consideration  that  we  are  called 
on  &  actually  consenting  to  register  the  Edicts  of  a  foreign 
Despot." 


448         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"City  of  Washington  Feb.  26.  1806 
Dear  Sir 

.  .  The  St.  Domingo  Bill  has  passed  both  Houses  -  -  But 
I  am  told  the  French  Minister  is  not  satisfied  with  the  pro 
visions  of  the  law  and  says  it  does  not  go  far  enough  -  -  I 
think  if  we  should  be  called  upon  again  to  legislate  on  the 
subject,  it  would  be  well  to  let  the  French  Minister  draw  up 
his  own  decree  - 

Pierpont  Edwards  is  appointed  District  Judge  for  Con 
necticut  I  cannot  learn  that  he  has  manifested  his  willingness 
to  accept  the  office  I  think  however  that  the  probability  is 
that  he  will  accept  - 

Pierpont  Edwards  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"New  York  March  3d  1806 
Dear  Sir, 

An  occurrence  wholly  unexpected,  gives  birth  to  the 
present  letter.  I  this  morning  received  from  the  president 
of  the  United  States  a  commission  as  district  Judge  of  Con 
necticut  District  -  Whether  I  will,  for  this  office,  abandon 
my  prospects  here,  becomes  a  very  serious  and  momentous 
question  to  me,  and  I  must  take  time  to  consider  it  -  -  in  the 
mean  time  I  have  resolved  to  take  the  oath  of  office,  that  the 
business  of  the  district  may  receive  no  interruption 
I  wish  to  know  what  causes  are  now  depending  in  the  Circuit 
court  ?  What  causes  are  at  law  and  what  on  the  equity  side 
of  the  court?  -  distinguishing  the  one  from  the  other  — 
What  issues  are  joined  at  Law?  —  Are  the  jury  warrants 
for  the  Third  Circuit  made  out?  My  son  Harry  will  call  on 
you  for  an  answer. 

I  am  very  respectfully  your  friend 

Pierpont  Edwards 

Honorable  Simeon  Baldwin." 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         449 

Mr.  Edwards  was  the  founder  of  the  "Toleration"  party 
in  Connecticut,  of  the  policies  of  which  Mr.  Baldwin  had 
been  one  of  the  strongest  opponents. 

Timothy  Pitkin  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  March  ioth  1806 
Dear  Sir. 

We  have  now  under  consideration,  Mr  Gregg's 
Resolutions  de  non  importation,  &  have  been  three  or  four 
days  upon  it  -  After  having  disposed  of  our  disputes  with 
France  &  Spain,  in  a  manner,  I  am  not  allowed  to  disclose,  - 
we  are  now  opening  the  campaign  against  Great  Britain  - 
Randolph  has  now  come  out  openly,  not  only  against  these 
Resolutions,  but  against  the  President,  &  the  Secretary  of 
State.  -  He  has  charged  the  President  with  duplicity,  with 
holding  a  language  official  &  a  language  confidential  -  -  of 
saying  one  thing  in  public,  &  another  in  private  -  He  has 
turned  the  streams  of  his  invective  from  the  Federalists, 
upon  some  of  the  Northern  Democrats  viz  Harrison,  Bidwell, 
Crowninshield  -  -  &  he  has  lashed  them  without  mercy. 
Never  has  the  President  been  handled  so  severely,  in  public 
debate,  as  by  Randolph  -  His  speach,  I  am  informed  will 
be  printed  in  a  pamphlet  I  will  send  you  one  as  soon  as 
obtained  —  After  what  Armstrong  has  done  at  Paris,  I 
trust,  the  public  will  be  surprised  to  hear,  that  the  President 
has  now  nominated  him,  with  Mr  Bowdoin,  Ministers  to  nego 
tiate  our  differences  with  Spain  -  The  nomination  has  not 
yet  received  the  sanction  of  the  Senate.  - 

As  to  the  state  of  affairs  here,  it  is  difficult  to  describe 
them,  there  seems  to  be  a  distrust  &  difference  among  the 
members  of  the  Cabinet,  as  well  as  among  the  members  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  -  -  &  I  fear  it  will  end  in,  Confu 
sion  worse  confounded. 

I  am  your  S— 

Tim0  Pitkin  Jr." 
15 


45°         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

Timothy  Pitkin  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  March  19th  1806 
Dear  Sir, 

You  will  see  by  the  papers  what  we  are  doing  in 
Congress  -  Nicholson's  Resolutions  have  passed  -  Many 
of  those,  who  voted  for  them,  are  really  against  them,  & 
expect  to  fix  the  day,  at  so  distant  a  period,  that  it  will  never 
take  effect.  The  union,  which  finally  took  place,  was,  I 
believe,  a  forced  one,  &  will  not  be  lasting.  -  As  to  the 
expedition  of  Miranda,  we  know  here,  I  presume,  little  more 
than  you  do  -  Miranda  was,  indeed,  at  Washington ;  he 
visited  the  President,  &  Secretary  of  State  -  Whether  he 
broached  his  projects  to  them,  or  not  is  left  to  conjecture  - 
Our  particular  situation  with  Spain,  might  perhaps,  incline 
such  a  man  as  Miranda,  to  just  hint  some  projects  to  the 
Executive,  &  the  Executive  might  wish  them  success,  without 
promising  any  countenance  or  assistance  -  This  is  only 
conjecture  -  The  President  has  removed  Smith  of  New 
York,  from  his  office,  &  has  nominated  his  Successor  This, 
I  presume,  has  been  done,  for  the  purpose  of  showing  that 
he  acted  without  Back.  - 

Armstrong  &  Bowdoin  are  appointed  Ministers  to  settle 
our  affairs  with  Spain.  Armstrong  labored  in  the  Senate; 
the  division  on  his  appointment  was  15  to  15  &  the  Vice 
President  gave  the  casting  vote  -  one  Senator  fled  the 
Question.  He  was  opposed,  but  chose  not  to  vote  -  The 
Senate  spent  a  week  in  debate  on  his  appointment.  - 

As  we  have  now,  done  so  much  for  the  honor  &  Interest 
of  the  nation,  we  talk  of  adjourning  soon  - 

I  am  your  Friend  & 

Humble  Servant 

Tim0  Pitkin  Jr." 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"City  of  Washington  March  2Oth.  1806  - 

.     .     The  Senate  have  advised  and  consented  to  the  Nomina 
tion  of  General  Armstrong  to  be  Envoy  extraordinary  to  the 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         45 1 

Court  of  Spain  to  commence  a  new  Negotiation  for  more 
territory  -  After  what  has  been  published  respecting  Gen1 
Armstrongs  conduct  at  Paris,  it  was  hardly  to  be  expected 
that  even  the  present  Chief  Magistrate  would  have  nominated 
him  for  a  new  appointment,  instead  of  recalling  him  for  his 
past  Misconduct  the  nomination  was  opposed  in  the 

Senate,  who  on  the  question  were  equally  divided,  and  the 
question  was  decided  by  the  casting  Vote  of  the  Vice  Presi 
dent  in  favour  of  the  appointment  - 

In  the  inclosed  paper  you  have  part  of  the  Speech  of  John 
Randolph  which  I  have  no  doubt  you  will  read  with  pleasure 

-  We  have  truly  an  Administration  without  a  Cabinet  and 
without  System  or  Energy  - 

Timothy  Pitkin  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  April  Ist,  1806 
Dear  Sir, 

I  am  now  able  to  inform  you,  that,  yesterday,  the 
injunction  of  secrecy,  relating  to  our  proceedings  with  closed 
doors,  was  taken  off  -  This  was  not  done,  without  the 
greatest  struggle,  that  has  yet  taken  place  in  Congress  — 
We  began  soon  after  eleven,  &  continued  our  Session  till 
more  than  half  after  five.  The  yeas  &  nays  were  taken  four 
different  times,  the  first  was  on  the  Question  to  postpone  the 
motion  for  two  weeks  -  -  this  was  negatived  Ayes  61  — 
noes  62  -  -  the  second  was  on  a  Question  that  the  Secrets 
be  disclosed  after  the  rising  of  Congress  -  -  negatived  — 
Ayes  59  -  -  noes  61  -  the  third  on  the  Question  of  post- 
poneing  it  for  one  week,  negatived  Ayes  58  —  noes  62  -  & 
the  last,  taken  on  the  original  motion  -  -  Ayes  63  -  -  noes  56 

-  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  detail  or  even  to  give  you  any 
idea  of  what  took  place  during  this  sitting  of  about  six 
hours  - 

Randolph  came  out  against  the  President,  &  the  Secretary 
of  State,  in  more  bitter  terms  than  ever.  Our  Secret  pro 
ceedings  have  related  to  our  differences  with  France  &  Spain, 
&  we  have  passed  a  Law,  appropriating  two  million  of  Dolls 
for  extraordinary  foreign  intercourse.  The  object  of  the 
Law  is  to  purchase  the  Floridas,  &  to  settle  our  other  differ- 


45 2          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

ences  with  Spain,  -  -  It  is  at  length  found  out,  that  by  the 
purchase  of  Louisiana,  we  obtained  no  right  to  any  Land 
East  of  the  Mississippi,  except  the  Island  of  New  Orleans, 
&  on  the  West  side  of  the  river  the  Spaniards  claim  to  such  a 
line,  as  will  leave  us,  but  a  small  strip  of  land,  up  to  the  red 
River  -  This  business  must  be  settled,  &  money  alone  would 
do  it.  -  It  is  a  fact  that  France  would  not  suffer  Spain, 
to  settle  with  us,  unless  she  would  give  France  money  - 
And  the  Money  -  -  viz  the  two  millions,  has  been  sent  to 
Paris,  in  the  Hornet,  which  sailed  from  New  York  about  a 
week  since,  &  is  going  into  the  pockets  of  Bonaparte  and 
Talleyrand  -  -  Some  say  we  shall  have  to  give  five  millions, 
others  Seven  millions  -  Yet  I  am  persuaded,  this  will  not 
be  the  end  of  it.  -  This  measure  was  carried  by  Executive 
influence  alone,  &  by  a  species  of  duplicity  disgraceful  in  a 
Chief  Magistrate  -  Had  the  President  disclosed  the  whole 
facts  in  his  possession,  the  law,  I  am  persuaded,  would  not 
have  passed. 

In  the  course  of  the  discussion,  yesterday,  Randolph  de 
clared  that,  before  the  Session  of  Congress,  the  Executive 
perfectly  well  understood,  that  the  two  millions  of  Dolls  was 
to  go  to  France  -  -  that  France  would  not  let  Spain  settle 
without  money  -  -  that  he  told  the  Executive  he  never  would 
consent  to  it,  but  that  he  would  expose  it  to  the  public.'  - 

He  also  said,  that  he  had  no  hesitation,  in  declaring,  that 
the  greater  part  of  the  mischief,  he  had  experienced  for  two 
years  past,  had  come  from  the  Kings  (President)  Closet,  & 
the  keeper  of  that  Closet.  -  And  also  said  -  "I  consider 
the  question  now  fairly  at  issue,  whether  this  Country,  shall 
be  governed,  by  a  Machievilian,  Spider-weaving,  Secret 
Cabinet  policy,  or  agreeable  to  the  laws  &  Constitution  -  -  It 
is  fairly  at  issue,  &  I  am  determined  to  abide  the  event." 
I  say,  that  according  to  my  "best  knowledge  &  belief  (&  my 
knowledge  is  not  hid  under  a  Bushel),  that  there  is  either  the 
grossest  ignorance  or  the  grossest  corruption  in  one  of  the 
departments  of  Government." 

Randolph,  I  believe,  was  nearly  three  hours  on  his  feet,  & 
treated  the  Executive,  &  his  opponents  in  the  House,  with 
the  utmost  severity." 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         453 

Senator  James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin,  Jan.  8th, 
1807. 

"There  is  much  talk  about  Col:  Burr  but  there  does  not 
appear  to  be  any  precise  information  of  what  he  is  doing, 
or  what  is  his  object  -  Apprehensions  seem  to  be  enter 
tained  that  he  is  upon  some  great  project  -  

.  "Yesterday  we  received  intelligence  of  the  death  of  Mr 
Breckenridge,  Attorney  General  of  the  United  States  -  Mr 
Edwards  as  he  has  failed  of  the  Judgeship,  may  possibly  look 
out  for  this  office  -  -  but  in  my  opinion  he  will  not  obtain  it; 
he  has  changed  his  politics  too  often  to  be  trusted  even  by 
Democrats  - 

James  Hillhouse  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"City  of  Washington  Jany  2d  1808 
Dear  Sir 

Enclosed  I  send  you  the  report  of  the  Committee 
in  the  case  of  John  Smith,  not  because  I  think  it  a  matter 
of  much  importance  whether  or  not  John  Smith  shall  retain 
his  seat  in  the  Senate,  but  because  it  contains  a  most  unwar 
rantable  attack  upon  all  Courts  and  judicial  proceedings 
in  criminal  prosecutions  -  Mr  Adams  was  chairman  of  the 
Com66,  and  the  Report  is  I  presume  his  own  draft  -  I  am 
sorry  the  Comee  should  have  felt  themselves  at  liberty  so 
unnecessarily  to  have  gone  out  of  their  way  to  invade  the 
Sanctuary  of  Justice  - 

With  great  esteem  I  am  Dear  Sir 

Your  friend 

James  Hillhouse 
The  Honble  Simeon  Baldwin." 

Senator  Hillhouse  writes  him  from  Washington,  January 
27,  1808: 

"As  to  the  Embargo,  I  have  no  better  means  of  forming 

an  opinion  than  yourself  and  every  member  of  the  community 

-  Mr  Adams'  motion  was  negatived  by  a  great  majority 


454         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

promptly  and  without  consideration  -  If  the  Embargo  is 
really  intended  (as  the  Administration  would  seem  to  wish 
us  to  believe)  to  counteract  the  Decrees  and  countervailing 
Decrees  of  France  and  England,  it  must  be  of  long  con 
tinuance,  for  the  effect  will  be  but  lightly,  and  cannot  be 
spedily  fealt  by  those  nations  -  But  every  thing  is  wraped 
up  in  mistery,  and  we  cannot  tell,  by  what  is  said,  what  is 
really  intended  by  our  Government  - 

The  grand  Caucaus  for  forcing  on  the  Candidates  for  the 
next  President  and  Vice-President,  has  been  held,  the  result 
you  will  find  in  the  enclosed  paper;  most  of  the  Friends  of 
Govr  Clinton  refused  to  attend  the  Caucaus,  and  are  dis 
pleased  with  the  Arrangement  -  The  Legislature  of  Vir 
ginia  have  also  had  a  Caucaus  and  have  divided  upon  Madison 
&  Munroe  for  President,  a  little  more  than  two  to  one  being 
for  Madison  -  Mr  Adams  has  a  card  of  invitation,  and  did 
actually  attend  the  Caucaus,  so  that  he  may  now  be  considered 
as  having  fully  and  compleatly  gone  over  to  Democracy/' 

Senator  Hillhouse  writes  again  on  January  23,  1809: 

"The  administration  seem  determined  to  persevere  in  the 
Embargo,  and  the  arbitrary  and  oppressive  measures  adopted 
for  carrying  it  into  execution  -  Measures  to  which  I  do 
not  believe  it  is  possible  for  our  country  to  Submit  -  -  and  so 
good  an  opinion  have  I  of  the  Spirit,  and  Patriotism  of  our 
Country  as  to  believe  they  will  not  submit  -  You  know 
it  has  been  my  opinion  from  the  first  that  the  Embargo  must 
be  taken  off  by  the  People,  for  I  have  long  been  persuaded 
that  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  our  Government,  consistently 
with  good  faith,  to  take  off  the  embargo  without  the  consent 
of  a  nation  not  subject  to  our  control  -  I  have  suspected 
from  the  first,  and  I  think  there  is  evidence  more  than  suffi 
cient  to  justify  suspicion,  that  the  measure  was  adopted  by 
concert,  and  to  cooperate  with  a  foreign  power  -  The 
measure  also  accorded  exactly  with  the  Visionary  project 
of  our  Administration,  of  converting  Merchants  and  Sailors 
into  Manufacturers  - 

I  hope  the  men  of  Character,  Influence, 

and  Talents  of  our  country  will  come  forward  in  a  bold  and 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846          545 

decisive  manner  -  This  is  no  time  to  take  council  of  our 
fears  -  -  I  wish  for  no  insurrection  or  irregular  violence  — 
Those  who  are  intrusted  with  the  management  of  our  State 
Government,  who  are  the  legitimate  Guardians  of  the  peoples 
rights,  and  liberties  ought  boldly  to  step  forth  in  the  front 
rank,  and  give  to  the  whole  business  a  legitimate  and  consti 
tutional  direction  -  I  flatter  myself  this  will  be  the  case 
and  if  they  do  the  People  will  go  with  them  -  -  the  time  and 
manner,  and  much  depends  on  that,  must  be  left  to  those  on 
the  spot  - 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Hartford  Feby  26th  1809. 
My  dear  Sir, 

You  doubtless  wish  to  know,  and  certainly  as 
one  of  the  Sovereign  People  have  a  right  to  know,  what  the 
Servants  of  the  People  are  about  to  do  -  A  committee  of 
24  from  the  house  &  3  from  Councils  are  detailed  to  report 
all  Measures  A  Sub  Committee  of  Six  is  appointed,  and 
they  have  adopted  the  following  scheme  of  measures,  which 
if  approved  by  General  Committee  will  be  reported  to  mor 
row  at  two  of  Clock  P  M. 

i.     A  resolve  approbating  the  Call  of  the  Legislature. 

2d  Resolves,  declaring  the  embargo  &  enforcing  Laws 
oppressive,  arbitrary,  &  unconstitutional  and  on  these 
grounds  approving  the  Conduct  of  the  Governor,  in  declining 
to  designate  persons  to  enforce  the  Laws  -  -  declaring  that 
this  Assembly  will  give  no  aid  toward  their  execution  - 
enjoining  upon  all  executive  officers  to  withhold  their  Aid  & 
requesting  his  Excellency,  to  publish  this  injunction  in  mili 
tary  Orders  &  directing  the  Secretary  to  transmit  the  resolves 
to  Sheriffs  &  Town  Clerks  for  information  - 

These  resolutions  are  to  be  forwarded  by  the  Govr  to  the 
President  of  U  S  - 

These  are  to  be  followed  by  a  remonstrance  to  Congress 
expressive  of  what  we  feel  and  do  fear  —  and  by  an  Address 
to  the  People,  upon  the  State  of  public  Affairs,  recommending 
forbearance  &  moderation  --  and  appeals  to  Courts  &c  &c  — 


45 6         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

A  Resolve  echoing  the  resolve  of  Massachusetts  de  Amend 
ments  &c  - 

This  is  the  general  scheme  -  I  am  well  &  am  with  all 
Considerations 

Yours  respectfully 

Elizur  Goodrich." 

The  next  letter  is  from  Judge  Baldwin's  nephew,  Simeon 
Colton,  who  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1806. 
Simeon  Colton  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Salem  Massa.  September  8th  1809. 

I  will  now  introduce  a  subject,  upon  which  you  perhaps 
will  not  think  me  a  competent  judge,  but  I  can  state  facts 
and  will  leave  you  to  draw  whatever  conclusion  you  please. 
Mr  Webster  has  just  been  in  this  town  and  in  the  neighboring 
towns  soliciting  patronage  for  his  Dictionary  to  be  published 
at  some  future  day.  In  this  town  he  applied  to  John  Picker 
ing  Junr  Son  of  the  Col.  and  nephew  of  the  man  with  whom 
I  live.  This  man,  tho  young,  is  an  uncommon  schollar,  was 
Secretary  to  the  minister  at  the  court  of  Lisbon  some  years 
since;  after  that  visited  many  countries  in  Europe,  studied 
law  in  England.  As  this  man  is  the  Adopted  child  or  in 
tended  heir  of  the  man  with  whom  I  live,  I  have  an  oppor 
tunity  to  see  him  daily,  and  know  him,  and  through  him,  the 
opinion  of  the  litterary  men  in  the  neighborhood  concerning 
Mr  Webster,  better  than  he  can  himself.  In  this  quarter, 
every  thing  contrary  to  the  opinion  of  Cambridge  Univer 
sity  is  rejected  by  the  principal  characters;  consequently  Mr 
Webster  would  be  much  less  popular  here  than  if  he  paid 
more  respect  to  that  institution.  Again  Mr.  Webster  seems 
determined  to  run  down  Johnson  and  build  upon  his  ruin; 
nothing  could  be  more  fatal  to  him  in  this  quarter,  for  our 
litterati  will  never  believe  that  he  is  superior  to  this  great 
english  lexicographer,  and  by  this  means  will  withhold  the 
support  they  would  grant  were  he  more  modest  in  his  pre- 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         457 

tensions  But   there    is    another   capital    defect    in    Mr 

Websters  proposition.  He  proposes  that  the  subscribers 
should  advance  10  Dols  each.  This  I  am  certain  will  never 
succeed  in  this  quarter,  for  their  opinion  of  the  man,  is  not 
good  enough  to  induce  them,  hardly,  to  become  obligated  to 
take  his  books  after  they  are  printed.  He  must  devise  some 
other  plan  or  he  will  get  but  few  subscribers  within  the 
Atmosphere  of  Cambridge.  Another  thing  which  has  been 
noticed  is  his  pedling  his  own  productions,  in  person;  had 
he  addressed  the  public  thr'o  the  medium  of  the  papers,  or 
in  handbills,  with  a  specimen  of  his  work,  he  would  have 
been  more  successful,  and  nothing  would  be  more  efficacious 
than  the  publication  of  a  specimen.  But  the  great  and 
capital  defect  is  the  unbounded  vanity  of  the  man,  (Perhaps 
I  use  a  hard  expression,  but  I  use  such  as  I  hear,  and  such  as 
I  am  inclined  to  think  is  proper  from  his  publications  and  con 
versation  which  I  have  heard  related)  which  is  so  great  as 
to  excite  ridicule.  Many  of  the  principal  characters  here 
have  visited,  or  corresponded  with  men  in  England,  and  when 
they  hear  Webster  say  that  he  has  more  knowledge  than  any 
European  they  are  rather  disposed  to  laugh  than  to  admire. 

I  will  however  state  what  I  believe  to  be  true,  that  the  peo 
ple  here  are  willing  to  see  his  Dictionary,  tho  they  have  no 
great  opinion  of  it,  from  the  great  prejudice  they  have 
against  the  man.  These  are  facts  which  I  have  collected 
chiefly  thro  Mr  Pickering,  and  his  father  the  Col.,  the  latter 
of  whom,  I  know  has  a  low  idea  of  Mr  Webster.  I  write 
these  things  to  give  you  a  statement  of  what  I  think  to  be 
the  opinion  concerning  Mr  Webster  here ;  and  I  wish  for  the 
honor  of  our  Alma  Mater,  for  the  good  of  the  public,  and 
the  credit  of  the  man  himself,  he  were  not  so  confident  in  his 
own  merit,  but  would  be  content  to  address  the  public  as 
though  there  were  some  equal  to  himself.  I  suppose  Dr 
Morse  and  friends  encouraged  him,  but  their  opinion  would 
not  weigh  much  with  the  greater  part  of  the  people  in  Boston, 
and  other  large  towns  this  way.  I  would  not  be  censorious 
on  this  subject,  for  I  wish  the  man  success,  but  I  wish  he 
would  be  content  to  use  the  ordinary  means  to  obtain  it."  .  .  . 


458         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Hartford  June  3Oth,  1812 

.  .  We  have  unanimously  advised  his  Excellency  &  he  con 
curs  fully  in  the  Advice,  that  the  Militia  drafted  must  not 
march,  untill  it  is  made  evident  by  the  President,  that  one  of 
the  constitutional  exigencies  exist  that  even  then,  he 
retains  the  Command  &  that  they  must  be  under  their  own 
Officers  -  The  case  is  Gen1  Dearborn  has  required  four 
Companies  to  be  placed  under  the  officer  commanding  at  New 
London  -  This  force  is  a  Battalion  -  -  a  Major's  command 
-  and  by  this  requiring  Companies,  Generals,  Colonels,  & 
Majors  would  be  left  at  home  without  command,  their  men 
being  cunningly  taken  from  them  -  Thus  far  is  generally 
known  &  you  may  publish  at  pleasure  — 

I  say  to  you,  and  those  to  whom  you  think  best  -  -  that 
Massachusetts  &  Rhode  Island  will  concur  in  this  procedure 

I  am  in  haste 

respectfully 
E.  Goodrich" 

Mr.  Goodrich  was  then  an  "Assistant"  or  member  of  the 
Upper  House  of  the  General  Assembly. 

Judge  Baldwin's  two  older  sons  were  studying  law  in  1813, 
Ebenezer  Baldwin  at  Albany,  in  the  office  of  John  Lovett, 
and  Roger  S.  Baldwin  at  the  Litchfield  Law  School.  The 
former  became  a  member  of  Mr.  Lovett's  family  by  way  of 
exchange  for  his  son  John  E.  Lovett  (Yale,  Class  of  1814), 
who  lived  at  Mr.  Baldwin's  house  in  New  Haven  while  at 
College. 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Ebenezer  Baldwin. 

"New  Haven  Jany  12.  1813,  - 
My  dear  Son  - 

Altho'  I  have  written  you  two  letters  since 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  one  from  you,  I  will  not  omit  so  direct 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         459 

a  conveyance  as  this  by  Mr  Lovett,  who  returns  to  Albany 
on  the  morrow.  -  -  &  to  make  my  letter  the  more  acceptable 
for  I  do  not  think  of  much  to  write,  I  enclose  Twenty  Dollars 
in  two  ten  dollar  Bills  of  the  Eagle  Bank 

I  suppose  by  this  time  your  Supreme  Court  is  in  session,  & 
that  you  have  it  determined  whether  &  when  you  are  to  be 
examined  -  I  presume  during  the  absence  of  Mr  Lovett 
you  have  not  been  able  to  learn  or  do  much  on  the  subject 
of  the  arrangement  proposed.  Indeed  that  depends  in  part 
as  it  appears  to  me  on  the  continuance  of  this  deranging  war. 
On  that  subject  I  confess  I  can  make  no  satisfactory  calcula 
tions.  The  results  of  common  sense  &  prudence  or  in  other 
words  sound  policy  unquestionably  dictate  peace,  but  I  much 
fear  from  what  I  can  learn  that  passion  and  prejudice  will 
prevent  it,  for  the  present.  -  The  astonishing  changes 
which  have  taken  place  in  the  sentiments  of  the  people  in  the 
northern  States,  must  in  the  end  produce  a  corresponding 
change  of  measures.  If  the  final  result  should  be  a  northern 
coalition  in  opposition  to  southern  dominion  and  southern 
policy,  some  attonement  will  be  made  for  the  horrors  of  the 
war  -  This  ought  to  be  a  primary  object  with  every  friend 
of  the  Country.  I  shall  not  be  chagrined  if  the  name  of 
federalist,  must  be  lost  in  this  coalition.  That  name  has 
indeed  covered  a  previous  nucleus,  which  now  rises  in  aston 
ishing  growth,  &  if  that  which  was  sown  must  perish  to  give 
vigor  to  the  plant,  I  shall  not  despair  of  the  fruit  call  it  what 
you  will.  -  The  peace  party  will,  I  think,  if  kept  together, 
naturally  be  opposed  by  Southern  policy:  to  keep  them 
together  mutual  indulgence  &  mutual  forbearance  must  be 
cultivated.  Federalists  must  not  carve  for  themselves  alone. 
It  is  their  interest  while  giving  the  tone,  &  directing  the 
course,  to  cherish  accessions  of  strength,  by  sharing  with 
them,  when  worthy  of  the  trust,  even  places  of  confidence  & 
emolument  -  I  say  when  worthy  of  the  trust  -  -  for  I  have 
long  been  of  opinion  that  among  the  antifederalists  of  your 
State  more  talents  were  found  than  in  the  same  class  with  us 

-  Your  divisions  were  made  from  different  causes  -  State 
policy  £  family  alliances  having  often  more  influence,  than 


460         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

national  objects  or  perhaps  individual  interest.  -  I  have 
heretofore  advocated  not  precisely  I  agree  on  these  principles, 
the  advancement  of  Dewitt  Clinton  -  not  I  admit  because 
I  in  all  respects  liked  the  character  of  the  man,  but  partly 
because  I  liked  it  better  in  many  respects  than  that  of  his  rival 
—  &  more  especially  because  I  thought  it  would  produce 
what  I  think  it  has  in  a  great  measure  produced  &  is  likely  to 
effect,  a  northern  coalition  in  opposition  to  that  of  the  South 

-  This  object  tho  not  fully  attained  is  not  to  be  abandoned; 
federal  men  where  they  have  the  lead,  must  in  some  measure 
countenance  those  who  have  thus  far  cooperated  with  them ; 
this  will  tend  not  only  to  secure  those  who  have  acted  with 
them  but  will  have  a  tendency  to  encourage  others.  - 

The  future  cooperation,  in  this  object  of  Mr  Clinton  &  his 
associates,  ought  not  rashly  to  be  rejected  -  He  has  so  iar 
as  I  have  been  informed  executed  with  great  propriety  &  to 
pretty  general  satisfaction  the  important  office  of  Mayor  of 
New  York  —  &  I  very  much  doubt  the  policy  of  a  step  which 
I  understand  is  contemplated,  I  mean  of  ejecting  him  from 
that  office.  I  know  not  what  is  expected  to  be  gained  by  it  - 
but  I  am  confident  much  would  be  hazarded.  - 

I  will  not  however  dwell  on  a  subject  which  the  wise  poli 
ticians  of  your  State  understand  so  much  better  than  myself. 
I  trust  they  will  act  wisely  -  -  they  have  the  same  object  in 
view. 

You  can  act  your  pleasure  about  continuing  at  Albany 
longer  than  the  period  necessary  to  complete  your  Clerkship 

-  provided  it  should  be  agreeable  to  Mr  Lovett  -       At  any 
rate  whether  you  tarry  or  not  I  shall  expect  young  Mr  Lovett 
to  return  again  to  us     I  am  sensible  we  are  yet  in  arrears  to 
them  on  the  balance  of  board.  -  -  &  he  has  endeared  himself 
so  much  to  us,  that  I  shall  insist  on  his  tarrying  with  us  even 
after  that  balance  shall  be  discharged.  - 

With  my  best  respects  to  Mr  &  Mrs  Lovett  &  family 

I  am 
your  Aif6  father 

Simeon  Baldwin 
Mr  Eben  Baldwin." 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         461 
Simeon  Baldwin  to  John  Lovett  of  Albany,  April  27,  1813. 


.  "I  suppose  you  are  now  in  the  midst  of  your  election  I 
wish  you  success  with  all  my  heart,  &  I  assure  you  you  have 
the  prayers  of  all  the  good  and  virtuous  in  the  Land  of  Steady 
habits  -  Never  I  presume  was  N  E  so  much  interested  in 
any  foreign  election  -  Indeed  your  election  is  of  immense 
importance  to  the  whole  of  our  country  -  It  may  give  tone 
to  the  Politics  of  the  Union  -  Unite  N  Y  &  N  E  heartily 
in  the  object  &  this  calamitous  war  must  cease  not  from  choice, 
but  necessity.  — " 

Senator  Daggett  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Confidential 

Washington  June  12.  1813 
Dear  Sir. 

I  have  been  endeavouring  ever  since  my  arrival 
here  to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  the  Russian  mediation,  & 
I  am  inclined  to  think  that  you  may  depend  on  the  following 
facts  as  to  the  origin  &  progress  of  that  business.  Early 
after  the  declaration  of  war  the  Russian  Cabinet  fearing 
that  G.  B.  might  by  this  war  be  compelled  to  withdraw  her 
forces  from  the  Peninsula  &  thus  enable  Buonaparte  to  bring 
a  greater  force  against  them,  suggested  the  idea  of  the  media 
tion  to  MT  Adams.  Mr  A.  had  just  received  official  informa 
tion  of  the  war  from  our  Cabinet  in  which  he  was  instructed 
to  inform  the  Russian  Minister  that  it  was  the  earnest  desire 
of  this  Government  to  remain  on  the  most  friendly  terms  with 
them,  &  that  in  any  event,  the  war  was  not  to  bring  us  into  any 
closer  union  with  France.  Count  Romanzon  then  formally 
offered  the  mediation  which  was  afterwards  accepted  by  the 
President  &  at  the  time  of  this  offer  the  Count  notified  Lord 
Cathcart  of  the  fact  &  solicited  this  acceptance  of  it  on  the 
part  of  Great  Britain.  The  British  Court  refused,  saying 
that  they  neither  accepted  nor  rejected  but  that  the  United 
States  would  not  accept.  Thus  things  were  by  the  last 
advices.  It  has  been  often  asked  why  an  armistice  was  not 
entered  into.  The  President  did  not  think  it  proper 


462          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

while  it  was  entirely  uncertain  whether  G.  B.  would  treat 
with  us  on  the  terms  proposed,  to  seek  an  armistice.  It  would 
have  been  too  humiliating. 

These  being  the  facts  it  is  fairly  to  be  presumed  that  the 
administration  are  in  earnest  to  terminate  this  unhallowed 
war  —  that  they  will  succeed  in  effecting  this  object  I  think 
probable  unless  the  coalition  against  France  should  be  so 
strong  &  successful  as  to  induce  G.  B.  to  hold  towards  us 
a  very  high  tone  of  conduct  -  that  we  shall  gain  any  impor 
tant  point  I  have  no  belief.  The  most  that  the  administra 
tion  now  look  for  is  that  G.  B.  will  stipulate  for  a  limited 
period,  say  10  or  12  years,  that  in  consequence  of  our  making 
certain  laws  prohibiting  british  subjects  from  entering  our 
vessels,  she  will  forbear  to  search  such  vessels  for  such  period. 
And  I  think  it  quite  clear  that  such  a  treaty  would  on  our  part 
be  a  recognition  of  the  right  of  search  at  all  other  times,  & 
of  course  would  establish  a  principle  which  we  now  deny 
&  for  which  we  have  gone  to  war. 

The  solicitude  of  the  ruling  party  on  the  subject  of  taxes 
is  very  great.  They  dare  not  impose  them  and  they  dare  not 
refuse  them.  The  federalists  I  presume  will  tell  them  thus 
If  you  will  provide  a  system  of  just  &  equal  internal  taxes 
which  shall  be  permanent  &  which  shall  remain  a  source  of 
revenue  to  build  up  the  nation,  we  will  join  you,  but  we  will 
not  aid  in  any  temporary  expedients  which  are  calculated 
merely  to  relieve  you  from  your  folly  &  consequent  embarass- 
ment. 

There  is  much  strength  in  both  houses  against  the  present 
measures,  &  it  will  be  a  herculean  task  for  the  administration 
to  escape  from  the  effects  of  their  folly. 

I  have  been  much  pleased  with  Giles.33  He  is  one  of  the 
most  able  parliamentary  men  I  have  seen  at  any  time.  He 
has  none  of  the  graces  or  oratory,  but  much  sagacity  & 
strength.  Mr  M.34  will  find  in  him  a  host  of  enemies. 

33  Senator  William  B.  Giles   (Princeton,  Class  of  1781).     He  was 
originally  a  Federalist,  but  became  a  leader  of  the  Democratic  party 
in  the  Senate  in  1804.     In  1811  he  lost  this  position,  by  opposing  the 
policies  of  President  Madison. 

34  No  doubt,  President  Madison  is  meant. 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         463 

You  will  read  this  if  you  please  to  Doc*  Dwight  Mr  Hill- 
house  &  your  brethren  if  you  think  the  information  of  any 
importance,  but  I  do  not  wish  it  further  known  from  me. 

Yours  respectfully  &  sincerely 
David  Daggett." 

Charles  Denison  of  New  Haven  was  one  of  the  two  repre 
sentatives  from  New  Haven,  at  the  October  Session  of  the 
General  Assembly  in  1815,  and  was  elected  Speaker.  When 
the  time  came  around  for  making  nominations  for  repre 
sentatives  at  the  May  Session,  1816,  there  was  a  good  deal 
of  opposition  to  sending  him  back  on  the  part  of  some  New 
Haven  Federalists,  because  he  was  an  Episcopalian.  Senator 
Daggett  wrote  Judge  Baldwin  on  the  subject  as  follows : 

"Washington  8th  March  1816 
Dear  Sir. 

I  extremely  regret  the  course  which,  it  seems,  is 
pursuing  now  in  New  Haven  respecting  the  different  denom 
inations  of  Christians,  &  that  especially  regarding  nomina 
tions  &c  -  It  cannot  be  discreet  to  withdraw  support  from 
Mr  Denison.  He  is  now  Speaker  &,  of  course,  his  election 
to  the  Assembly  is  very  important  as  respects  his  political 
career.  I  shall  be  very  happily  disappointed,  if  the  violence 
of  some  of  our  friends  shall  not  essentially  injure  the  cause 
of  correct  principles.  It  cannot  be  wise  to  insist  that  Epis 
copalians  shall  become  democrats  or  be  disfranchised.  — 
Pray  tell  me  if  I  can  write  to  any  one  to  do  any  good  at  this 
time? 

With  kind  regards  to  Mra  Baldwin 

I  am  your  friend  & 
Obed*  Serv' 

David  Daggett." 

New  Haven  was  the  first  town  in  the  United  States  which 
was  originally  built  on  a  regular  geometrical  plan,  with  a 
central  place  reserved  for  a  public  common  or  plaza.  On 


464         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

this  common  square,  afterwards  known  as  the  Green,  was 
erected,  in  1639,  the  common  church,  and  in  the  next  century, 
another  of  the  same  faith  and  order,  namely  the  Congrega- 
tionalist.  Early  in  the  nineteenth  century  permission  was 
obtained  to  erect  a  third  church  edifice  there  for  Episcopa 
lians.  Each  of  the  others  was  then  replaced  by  a  new  one, 
and  in  1815  three  church  buildings  were  erected  in  a  North 
and  South  line,  crossing  the  Green  in  the  middle.  The  fol 
lowing  letter  is  in  reply  to  one  from  a  minister  in  North 
Carolina,  who  wished  a  full  description  of  the  meeting  house 
standing  furthest  North,  and  belonging  to  the  "United 
Society." 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Rev.  J.  H.  Turner. 

"New  Haven,  Mar.  6,  1816  — 
Mr  J.  H.  Turner 

Dear  Sir 

Yours  of  the  ioth  Feby  I  received  when 
absent  on  the  Circuit  -  On  my  return  I  immediately  pro 
cured  the  plan  of  the  meeting  house  belonging  to  the  United 
Society,  &  have  taken  from  that  the  Draft  of  the  ground 
floor,  Gallery  &c  which  exhibits  the  size  of  the  house  the 
number  of  windows  -  -  doors  &c.  &  a  conference  room  over 
the  entrance  -  That  you  might  have  a  more  perfect  view 
of  the  general  appearance  of  all  the  new  buildings  &  of  their 
steeples,  proportions  &c.  I  have  procured  a  print  of  them, 
which  though  coarsely  done  exhibits  the  general  view  &  I 
believe  the  proportions  -  The  center  building  belongs  to 
the  first  Socy  (Mr  Taylors)  -  -  that  on  the  right  to  the  United 
Socy  (Mr  Merwin's)  :  the  gothic  building  to  the  episcopa 
lians.  - 

Mr  Merwins  is  98  by  60  --  the  walls  37  from  the  basement 
-  Mr  Taylors  100  by  72.     The  walls  say  34  -  -  the  Church 
1 15  (sic)  by  74  —  walls  say  40  -      In  the  two  North  meeting 
houses  the  pillars  support  the  Gallery ;  only  the  ceiling  over 
head  is  supported  from  the  roof  forming  a  handsome  ellip- 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         465 

tical  dome  of  10  feet  elevation,  ornamented  with  stucco  radii 
from  the  corners  -  -  other  stucco  ornaments  around  its  Case 
&  in  the  center  -  The  pulpit,  of  Mr  Merwins  is  of  mahogany 
the  others  are  of  pine  well  wrought  painted  &  varnished  - 
the  Stair  rails  &  caps  of  the  pews  &  Slips  in  all  are  of 
mahogany  -  In  Mr  Merwins  you  perceive  by  the  plan  a 
part  of  the  wall  seats  are  in  pews;  in  both  the  others  the 
whole  is  divided  into  slips  -  The  expence  of  each  building 
about  31.  or  32,000.  The  walls  of  the  2  M.  H.  are  of  brick 
-  those  of  the  C.  are  of  our  rock  stone  well  laid  &  pointed 
&  cornered  with  red  sand  stone.  The  sales  of  the  pews  in 
Mr  Merwins  amounted  to  about  34,000  reserving  about  l/§ 
for  the  Society  -  The  whole  will  cost  this  town  by  the  time 
the  fences  walks  &c  are  completed  not  far  from  100,000  Dol 
lars.  This  prima  facie  argues  much  in  favour  of  the  increas 
ing  attention  to  the  main  objects  of  such  building  -  And 
I  think  there  is  some  reality  in  it  -  but  we  must  acknowl 
edge  that  some  part  of  our  exertion  is  imputable  to  worldly 
pride  &  a  spirit  of  rivalship  -  I  hope  however  &  think  that 
good  may  come  even  out  of  it  -  He  that  makes  the  wrath 
of  man  praise  him  can  with  equal  ease  make  their  pride 
terminate  in  his  Glory  - 

It  is  apparent  that  the  attention  to  religion  heretofore 
exhibited  in  this  town  still  continues  to  progress  in  a  still  & 
rational  manner  &  the  manifestations  exhibited  in  various 
parts  of  our  country  are  animating  to  the  Christian  -  '  .  .  . 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Ebenezer  Baldwin. 

"New  Haven  Aug  24th  1818 
My  dear  Son 

The  Convention  to  form  a  New  Constitution  for  Connect 
icut,  meet  at  Hartford  to  morrow  -       The  political  parties 
are  nearly  balanced  &  tho  party  politics  ought  to  be  laid  aside 
on  such  an  occasion,  I  think  they  will  have  some  influence.  - 
Leading  men  do  not  agree  on  alterations  &  it  is  evident  the 
influential  democrats  are  sorry  a  Convention  is  called  - 
The  Baptists  have  met  &  published  their  resolutions  not  to 


466         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

support  a  Constitution  which  sanctions  the  present  mode 
of  supporting  the  Gospel  ministry  by  taxation  -  The  Con- 
gregationalist  &  Episcopalians  have  so  long  been  accustomed 
to  this  mode  that  they  cannot  give  it  up  -  Such  men  as 
Govr  Treadwell  Mr  Pitkin35  &c  I  understand  are  for  making 
no  further  alterations  than  to  throw  the  present  Constitu 
tion  into  modern  shape  -  they  thinks  it  suits  the  habits  of 
the  people  &  that  any  innovation  in  principle  would  be  haz 
ardous  -  that  while  it  is  the  most  democratic  Constn  on 
earth,  150  years  experience  has  shown  that  it  has  sufP  energy 
for  such  a  people  Some  influential  men  will  propose  &  insist 
on  making  the  Govr  an  independent  branch  -  -  but  I  think 
they  will  not  dare  to  give  him  even  a  qualified  negative  — 
they  will  insist  on  his  nomination  to  all  the  principal  offices 
&  that  the  Senate  only  have  power  to  approve.  I  doubt 
whether  this  can  be  carried  -  an  attempt  will  be  made  to 
make  the  judiciary  independent  but  even  that  will  be  opposed 
On  the  whole  I  expect  very  little  good  from  the  attempt, 
unless  good  is  to  come  from  a  new  sort  of  turmoil.  - 

Frederick  Wolcott  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Litchfield,  September  28th,  1818. 
Dear  Sir, 

The  federal  Gentlemen  in  this  County  are  united  in 
the  opinion  that  the  adoption  of  the  proposed  Constitution 
will  be  ruinous  to  the  State,  &  we  have  concluded  to  devote 
the  whole  of  this  week  in  efforts  to  induce  the  freemen  to 
attend  the  next  Monday  &  to  vote  for  its  rejection.  We 
think  the  majority  of  votes  in  this  County  against  the  Con 
stitution  will  exceed  one  thousand.  We  have  been  informed 
that  the  Court  &  bar  at  Danbury  lately  voted  in  caucus  that 
they  would  support  the  new  Constitution.  The  motive  for 
this  measure  is  incomprehensible  to  us,  but  notwithstand 
ing  all  the  discouraging  &  wonderful  circumstances  which 
are  operating  against  us  we  have  not  one  thought  of  relaxing 
our  efforts,  &  we  think  we  yet  have  thro  the  State  an  even 
chance  of  success.  The  Gentlemen  here  desired  me  to  state 

35  Timothy  Pitkin  (Yale,  Class  of  1785). 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         467 

to  you  that  we  anxiously  hope  &  expect  that  the  Gentlemen 
in  New  Haven  will  take  the  most  effectual  measures  to  have 
the  federal  freemen  in  every  Town  in  New  Haven  County 
made  sensible  of  the  importance  of  the  approaching  crisis, 
and  that  there  shall  be  the  next  Monday  a  full  expression  of 
the  publick  opinion  regarding  this  instrument.  Permit  me 
to  suggest  to  you  whether  it  will  not  be  well  to  write  a  letter 
to  some  confidential  &  influential  person  in  every  town  in 
Fairfield  County.  The  effect  of  the  monstrous  measure  at 
Danbury  must  in  some  way  be  removed. 

The  Republick  may  not  be  dispaired  of.  If  we  can  get 
rid  of  this  Constitution  Connecticut  will  be  erect  again  in 
twenty  four  hours.  We  are  too  liable  to  conclude  that  our 
individual  efforts  will  be  of  no  avail,  hence  the  liberty  I 
take,  &  believe  me  to  be  with  the  highest  respect  Dear  Sir, 
your  friend  & 

Obed.  Serv*. 

Frederick  Wolcott  - 
Simeon  Baldwin,  Esq.  - 

Mr.  Wolcott  (Yale,  Class  of  1786)  was  a  brother  of  Gov 
ernor  Oliver  Wolcott  (Yale,  Class  of  1778),  who  presided 
over  the  Convention  which  in  August  and  September,  1818, 
had  framed  the  Constitution.  He  was,  when  he  wrote,  a 
member  of  the  Upper  House  of  the  General  Assembly  and 
a  staunch  Federalist.  His  brother,  the  Governor,  had  come 
to  sympathize  with  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Ebenezer  Baldwin. 

"New  Haven  July  24,  1819  - 
My  dear  Son 

I  have  intended  for  some  time  to  seize  the  first 
leasure  moment  to  write  you  -  -  but  the  less  I  really  have  to 
so  -  -  the  less  leasure  I  find.  I  have  been  employed  however 
for  about  three  weeks  past  attending  a  reference  at  Hartford 
I  came  home  last  Tuesday  having  finished  the  business  on 
Monday  -  


468         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

I  have  heard  of  your  appointment  to  the  office  of  Surro 
gate,  &  congratulate  you  on  the  occasion,  &  the  more  sin 
cerely  so,  as  I  understand  you  obtained  it  without  a  sacrifice 
of  principle  &  character.  I  do  not  profess  to  know  much  of 
the  politics  of  your  State,  nor  do  I  personally  know  Govr 
Clinton,  but  the  energetic  course  he  took  when  mayor  of  the 
City  of  New  York  to  suppress  the  riots  at  the  time  of  the 
Baltimore  massacre,  gave  me  an  exalted  opinion  of  his 
talents  as  a  magistrate.  His  first  speech  or  message  was  one 
of  the  ablest  State  papers  of  the  age  -  If  his  course  as  chief 
magistrate  of  the  State  has  been  tollerably  fair  with  respect 
to  men  of  talents  of  the  different  parties,  I  should  be  loath 
to  hazzard  the  experiments  of  a  change  -  -  situated  as  the 
federalists  are  in  your  State  -  I  presume  the  reelection  of 
Mr  King  is  now  secure;  this  I  think  very  important  in  a 
national  view.  I  think  he  has  not  his  superior  in  the  Gen. 
Govfc  &  he  has  the  share  of  influence  in  the  national  Councils 
which  his  superior  talents  ought  to  command  -  There  I 
understand  the  old  parties  are  in  a  great  measure  amalga 
mated  -  -  &  it  ought  to  be  the  pole  star  in  the  politics  of  the 
State  Gov*  to  amalgamate  them  there  -  I  hope  the  course 
of  the  Council  of  Ass1  in  the  St.  of  N.  Y.  have  lately  pursued 
will  tend  to  the  same  object  -  I  fear  you  wont  get  right 
till  you  can  call  forth  the  talents  not  only  of  two,  but  of  all 
three  of  the  political  parties  in  your  State  in  unison  of 
action  — 

With  great  affection 
Your  father 

S.  Baldwin. 
E.  Baldwin  Esqr ' 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  his  wife. 

"New  Haven  May  3Otb  1820 
Dear  Betsy 

The  General  Assembly  are  still  in  Session  —  They  have 
not  done  as  much  mischief  as  they  did  last  year  because  they 
had  it  not  to  do  —  most  of  the  valuable  offices  were  vacated 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         469 

&  filled  last  year  -  Mr  Hillhouse  will  I  think  be  safe  another 
year  -  Judge  Swift  is  with  us  yet  -  He  has  been  ap 
pointed  one  of  a  Comn  to  revise  the  Statutes  &  prepare  a 
new  edition  of  them  -  This  was  very  proper  in  itself  & 
very  gratifying  to  him  -  Mr  Channing  has  been  in  town 
during  the  sessions.  He  has  not  called  on  me,  &  I  have  not 
particularly  invited  him  -  I  have  seen  him  several  times, 
but  do  not  court  his  favours  or  his  familiarity.  I  should 
write  more  but  am  interrupted  &  must  close  - 

Remember  me  to  all  friends  -  -  &  be  assured  I  am  with 
great  affection  your 

S.  Baldwin 

Mrs  Elizabeth  Baldwin/' 

By  ''Mr.  Channing"  was  doubtless  meant  his  classmate, 
Rev.  Henry  Channing  of  New  London.  He  had  been 
prominent  in  the  Toleration  party,  and  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  which,  in  May,  1818,  provided  for 
calling  the  Convention  from  which  the  new  State  Constitu 
tion  proceeded. 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Ebenezer  Baldwin. 

New  Haven  May  2Oth  1821 
My  Dear  Son 

I  have  received  yours  of  the  14th  &  rejoice  that  you  have 
fully  recovered  your  health  &  spirits.  The  issue  of  your  elec 
tion  is  different  from  our  hopes  &  expectations  —  but  in  these 
times  all  calculations  founded  on  the  course  of  former  times  & 
events  are  deceptive.  Democracy  is  a  strange  thing  as  we 
have  fatally  experienced  in  Con*  -  Your  explanation  how 
ever  is  satisfactory.  I  think  your  men  of  property  with 
out  freeholds  in  the  west  are  peculiarly  situated  &  their 
case  ought  to  be  provided  for,  but  I  hope  you  will  not  suffer 
the  Pendulum  to  vibrate  to  the  extreme  the  other  way. 
Universal  suffrage  you  may  depend  on  it,  will  ruin  any  State. 
If  it  must  be  extended  to  electors  of  the  most  numerous 
branch,  I  am  extremely  anxious  that  respectable  pecuniary 


470         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

qualifications  of  some  sort  should  be  required  of  those  who 
elect  the  Govr  and  Senate,  otherwise  property  has  no  check, 
&  will  be  as  it  is  here  controuled  by  the  mob.  You  have  been 
accustomed  to  a  difference  &  may  preserve  it  in  some  shape, 
we  had  never  known  a  difference  &  could  not  make  it.  Our 
suffrage  is  worse  than  universal  &  without  a  check.  .  .  . 

In  the  spring  of  1821,  Judge  Baldwin  drove  in  his  chaise 
to  Boston,  expecting  to  bring  home  his  daughter  Rebecca, 
who  had  been  making  a  long  visit  to  her  Aunt  Evarts.  Her 
husband,  Jeremiah  Evarts,  LL.D.,  who  was  Secretary  of 
the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Mis 
sions,  accompanied  him.  The  trip  is  described  in  a  letter  to 
his  eldest  son,  at  Albany. 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Ebenezer  Baldwin. 

"New  Haven  Novr  ioth  1821  - 
My  Dear  Son 

We  have  so  long  improperly  neglected  our  cor 
respondence  that  I  hardly  know  where  to  begin  or  what  to 
write." 

"By  appointment  I  took  Mr  Evarts  into  my  chaise  at 
Springfield,  where  he  had  been  attending  the  board  of  Comn 
for  foreign  Missions  -  We  spent  the  Sabbath  in  Worcester, 
one  of  the  finest  inland  Towns  in  New  England  &  arrived  in 
Boston  on  Monday  &  the  next  day  went  to  Andover  &  on 
Wednesday  attended  the  examination  or  Commencement  of 
the  Theological  School  there.  The  establishment  exhibits 
the  wonderful  munificence  of  its  patrons,  particularly  of  Mr 
Bartlett  who  (in)  addition  to  his  former  bountiful  donations 
has  during  the  last  season  completed  a  new  College  edifice 
of  the  size  of  the  largest  Colleges  in  N  H,  finished  in  a  supe 
rior  stile  -  -  &  every  room  completely  furnished  with  every 
necessary  article  of  furniture  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
students  from  the  beds  to  the  dust  brush  &  each  article 
marked  with  the  name  of  the  institution  &  the  N°  of  the  room 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         47 l 

to  which  they  belong.  -  -  &  all  this  &  much  more  at  the  sole 
expence  of  Mr  Bartlett.  - 

Many  things  appeared  well  there,  but  I  was  much  disap 
pointed,  in  seeing  no  display,  or  even  attempt  at  pulpit  elo 
quence  -  -  the  Pupils  all  exhibitted  specimens  of  composition 
in  short  Essays  -  -  but  were  all  read,  &  most  of  them  without 
animation,  in  a  dull  monotonous  manner  -  -  tho'  the  subject 
of  several  of  them  was,  the  importance,  power  &  energy  of 
eloquence.  -  We  returned  to  Boston  on  Thursday  —  On 
Saturday  I  visited  our  friends  in  Salem  &  returned  to  Bos 
ton  the  same  evening  -  On  Tuesday  I  consulted  the  Docr 
with  respect  to  Rebecca's  return  &  the  next  day  sat  out  on 
my  return,  by  the  way  of  Cambridge  where  I  visitted  the 
Colleges  &c  &  the  great  cotton  factory  at  Waltham  &  arrived 
in  the  afternoon  at  Mr  Hoar's36  in  Concord,  where  I  tarried 
till  the  next  Monday  &  then  returned  to  New  Haven  accom 
panied  by  M™  Hoar  -  -  who  taried  here  about  a  fortnight 
and  has  returned.  -  Boston  &  its  vicinity  exhibit  great 
wealth  the  fruit  of  unequalled  mercantile  enterprize  -  -  the 
Country  around  is  uneven  very  rocky  &  much  of  it  barren, 
exhibitting  few  inducements  for  agricultural  enterprize,  & 
yet  perhaps  there  is  no  spot  of  equal  extent  in  the  United 
States,  exhibitting  such  a  display  of  wealth,  industry,  enter 
prize  &  plenty  of  good  things  -  On  the  whole  I  was  grati 
fied  in  the  journey,  tho'  disappointed  in  my  main  object  - 
I  was  gone  three  weeks  -  I  could  not  therefore  immediately, 
take  an  other  journey  to  Albany  -  I  should  have  been  very 
much  gratified  I  have  no  doubt,  to  have  seen  the  great  men 
of  your  State  together  &  heard  their  Debates  in  Convention 
-  but  I  am  thoroughly  sick  of  the  changes  which  the  mania  of 
the  day  is  producing  I  did  not  believe  that  the  Constitution 
of  Connecticut,  could  have  been  in  any  respect  a  sample  for 
the  States  of  Massachusetts  &  New  York  &  yet  both  have 
aped  its  worst  features  -  Even  the  most  hot-headed  Demo 
crats  with  us,  now  are  cursing  universal  suffrage  with  more 
vehemence  than  the  federalist  of  the  old  School.  Abm 
Bishop  of  this  town  is  all  alive  on  the  subject;  he  reads  Chan- 

36  Samuel  Hoar  (Harvard,  Class  of  1802,  LL.D.  1838),  whose  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  Roger  Sherman. 


472          Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

cellor  Kent's  remarks  with  great  approbation  -  I  have 
conversed  with  several  of  the  most  wealthy  democrats  in 
Wallingford  who  are  of  the  same  opinion.  I  am  told  that 
Fairchild,  the  Marshall  of  the  District,  &  some  others  in  his 
vicinity  have  expressed  the  same  opinion,  &  many  of  them 
begin  to  say  the  Constitution  must  be  amended  in  that  par 
ticular  -  -  but  the  step  is  not  easily  regained  -  The  advo 
cates  of  universal  suffrage  may  answer  present  purposes  by 
it  -  but  I  am  confident  they  who  have  property  will  be  sick 
of  it,  when  it  will  be  too  late  -  The  alterations  &  realtera- 
tions  in  your  Constitution  have  been  so  great  &  so  numerous, 
that  I  have  not  been  able  to  keep  pace  with  them  -  When 
they  shall  have  been  embodied  &  printed  I  will  thank  you  to 
send  me  a  copy.  - 

In  the  following  letter,  introducing  the  sculptor,  Judge 
Baldwin  attests  the  merit  of  the  bust  of  Chief  Justice  Ells 
worth,  now  owned  by  the  State : 

"New  Haven,  Jany  24th  1837 
Hon.  A.  Robbins 

DrSir 

Perceiving  that  you  are  Chairman  of 

the  Committee,  charged  with  procuring  a  Bust  of  the  late 
Chief  Justice  Ellsworth,  I  with  pleasure  introduce  to  your 
acquaintance  Mr  Hezekiah  Augur  the  sculptor  employed  to 
execute  the  same.  Mr  Augur  is  a  native  of  this  Town.  I 
have  long  known  him  &  have  seen  with  pleasure  the  expan 
sion  of  his  native  powers,  without  the  assistance  of  others, 
skilled  in  the  art,  he  has  so  successfully  assumed. 

I  have  often  visited  the  work-shop  of  the  artist,  while 
forming  the  bust  he  now  presents  to  you:  and  from  a  long 
personal  acquaintance  with  the  late  Chief  Justice  Ellsworth, 
it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  certify  my  opinion  that  the  Bust 
exhibits  a  good  likeness  of  the  original,  far  beyond  my  expec 
tations  :  and  the  more  I  have  viewed  it,  the  more  I  am  satis 
fied  that  I  am  not  deceived.  I  do  not  profess  to  be  a 
connoisseur  in  matters  of  this  kind,  but  I  think  I  can  see  in 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         473 

the  figure  the  expression  of  firmness  &  dignity,  so  appro 
priate  to  the  character  of  the  venerable  statesman  &  Chief 
Justice  which  it  so  fairly  represents.  - 

I  rejoice  at  the  success  of  W  Augur,  &  hope  he  will  receive 
the  liberal  regard  &  encouragement  which  he  so  honorably 
deserves  — 

I  am  with  great  respect,  Your  ob*  Ser* 

Simeon  Baldwin." 

Elizur  Goodrich  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  May  10,  1844 
Dear  Sir 

There  is  undoubtedly  a  serious  division  among  democrats, 
in  regard  to  a  President  -  -  those  who  are  from  the  south  and 
west  are  generally  in  favor  of  Texas  and  vehemently 
opposed  to  VanBuren  -  Cass  and  Commodore  Stewart 
are  most  frequently  mentioned  -  There  can  be  no  unanim 
ity  among  them  -  The  new  tariff  Bill  has  been  very  warmly 
discussed  -  -  and  was  disposed  of  in  the  house  this  day  109 
ag*  it,  96  for  it  -  There  is  no  other  very  leading  political 
question  before  the  House  -  I  have  been  once  in  the  house 
-  twice  in  the  Senate  -  -  have  seen  John  M.  Niles  -  -  at  a 
distance  —  and  conversed  with  those  who  had  conversed  with 
him  -  He  appears  mopish  and  depressed  -  -  is  probably 
better  than  when  he  came  here;  goes  to  the  Senate,  where  I 
have  seen  him,  but  appears  to  take  but  little  interest  in  what 
is  going  on  -  he  is  not  however  an  idiot  or  deranged  - 
makes  enquiries  and  answers  questions  correctly  had 
rather  be  silent  than  to  converse  -  -  is  much  impaired  in  his 
intellect,  by  the  calamity  which  has  befallen  him  and,  left  to 
himself,  would  prefer  to  be  at  home  -  The  Committee  had 
an  interview  with  him  this  day  -  -  and  will  probably  admit 
him  to  a  seat  -  -  perhaps  they  cannot  reject  him  merely  for 
imbecility  of  intellect  -  -  as  there  is  no  precise  state,  whereby 
to  measure  a  Senator's  understanding  -  He  has  saunders 
around  the  Senate  a  good  while  -  -  and  doubtless  y^  wish  he 
was  away  -  Mostly  likely  soon  after  he  is  admitted  he  will 


474         Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846 

take  his  pay  and  his  brother,  who  is  with  him  every  minute 
will  take  him  home  - 

I  hope  the  Assembly  will  express  an  opinion  upon  the 
Texas  question  -  -  also  concur  with  Massachusetts  upon  the 
negro  representation  in  House  of  Reps  —  and  send  their 
doings  to  all  the  States  in  the  Union  excepting  Virginia, 
requesting  their  concurrence  -  -  not  sending  to  Congress  - 
as  they  have  nothing  to  do  with  amendments  of  this  kind,  till 
a  number  of  States  agree  -  The  Arrogance  of  Virginia 
towards  Mass,  excuses  from  sending  to  them  - 

I  see  it  mentioned  with  approbation  in  one  of  our  news 
papers  that  it  is  advisable  that  the  Irish  in  town  be  allowed 
to  form  themselves  into  a  military  Company  -  This,  in  my 
opinion,  would  be  a  very  mischevous  measure  -  -  if  we  must 
have  them  among  them  we  should  mix  them  up  as  much  as 
possible  with  the  inhabitants  -  -  to  separate  them  from  the 
rest  -  -  and  put  arms  in  their  hands  under  the  direction  of 
their  priests  would  in  my  opinion  be  dangerous  -  I  hope 
if  this  matter  is  brought  forward,  you  and  others  will  see 
that  it  is  crushed  -  The  Senate  are  determined  to  admit 
no  second  rate  man  in  to  Supreme  court  -  -  prefering  the 
inconvenience  of  being  with  circuit  Judges  12  months  or  more 
-  to  filling  the  court  with  weak  men." 

Senator  Truman  Smith  to  Simeon  Baldwin. 

"Washington  City    March  22d  1846 

Dear  Sir.      I  thank  you  cordially 

for  your  late  letter  and  particularly  for  the  favorable  opinion 
which  you  are  pleased  to  express  of  my  remarks  on  the 
Oregon  question  -  I  do  not  believe  there  has  been  at  any 
time  any  necessity  of  a  serious  controversy  with  Great  Britain 
on  this  subject  -  but  such  a  controversy  has  been  raised 
from  motives  &  with  purposes  which  you  understand  and 
can  properly  appreciate  I  have  no  doubt  at  least  two  thirds 
of  the  two  Houses  of  Congress  and  nine  tenths  of  the  People 
would  gladly  have  the  matter  settled  on  the  paralel  of  49° 
but  Great  Britain  will  not  offer  precisely  that  paralel  -  She 
will  require  some  concessions  on  our  part  such  as  ports  & 


Selections  from  Correspondence,  1786-1846         475 

harbors  below  that  paralel  and  the  free  navigation  of  the 
Columbia  River  -  I  am  seriously  apprehensive  that  the 
affair  will  be  hereafter  conducted  by  Mr  Polk  &  his  Secretary 
of  State  in  such  a  miserable  low  caviling  spirit  of  demagog- 
uism  that  the  danger  of  a  collision  between  the  two  countries 
will  become  much  more  imminent  than  it  has  been  hitherto 
-  But  if  we  do  not  have  a  war  with  Great  Britain  I  fear  we 
shall  have  a  domestic  war  -  -  or  in  other  words  I  am  appre 
hensive  "the  powers  that  be"  will  declare  a  war  of  exter 
mination  against  all  the  great  interests  of  the  country  by 
repealing  the  present  Tariff  -  If  the  question  was  to  be 
taken  in  a  general  form  I  have  no  doubt  a  large  majority 
of  the  two  houses  would  be  in  favor  of  letting  down  the  Tariff 
of  1842  but  I  have  some  hope  that  a  difference  among  the 
majority  as  to  details  will  enable  us  to  save  the  protective 
policy  We  feel  a  deep  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  result  of  the 
approaching  Election  in  Conn1  it  would  be  peculiarly 

unfortunate  to  have  our  State  in  the  present  critical  state  of 
public  affairs  relapse  into  the  slough  of  Locofocoism  -  I 
trust  we  shall  be  saved  from  so  great  a  misfortune  -  It  is 
not  in  my  power  to  send  you  the  recent  Patent  laws  as  they 
are  not  printed  for  the  use  of  the  members.  I  wish  to  be 
kindly  &  respectfully  remembered  to  M™  B  and  believe  me 
(with  many  affectionate  recollections)  to  be  truly 

Your  friend 

T  Smith." 


CHAPTER  XV 
HOME  LIFE  AND  OLD  AGE 

At  no  time  in  his  life  did  Mr.  Baldwin  have  a  large  income. 
As  a  young  man,  his  professional  earnings  for  the  first  few 
years  were  quite  small.  By  the  time  he  was  forty  they  were 
—for  that  day — handsome,  and  he  had  accumulated  quite  a 
little  capital,  the  principal  item  of  investment  being  his  home 
stead.  Then  came  his  two  years  at  Washington  and  twelve 
years  on  the  bench.  These  fourteen  years  of  public  service 
took  the  heart  out  of  his  professional  life.  The  loss  of 
$4,300  also,  by  the  failure  of  the  Eagle  Bank  in  1825,  swept 
away  at  one  stroke  the  gains  of  a  long  period  of  industry 
and  thrift. 

His  household  establishment  at  first  consisted  of  a  maid 
of  all  work.  As  soon  as  he  could  afford  it,  he  added  a  chore- 
boy,  who  also  helped  in  cultivating  the  garden,  and  waiting 
at  table.  Bristo,  his  father's  slave,  was  one  of  the  boys  or 
men  thus  employed.  Later  he  adopted  the  plan  of  taking  a 
boy  from  the  country,  and  sending  him  to  a  public  school. 
One  of  these  who  afterwards  struggled  through  college,  and 
eventually  became  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
once  said  that  the  best  part  of  his  education  came  from  what 
he  saw  and  heard  when  waiting  at  table  at  Judge  Baldwin's. 
Another  of  them,  who  stayed  on  until  full  manhood,  married 
the  maid,  and  became  the  tenant  of  the  farm  in  Hamden; 
cultivating  it  "on  shares/' 

Mr.  Baldwin,  as  has  already  been  stated,  soon  after 
his  marriage,  began  to  eke  out  his  slender  income  by  tak 
ing  one  or  two  boarders.  In  Lincoln's  novel  of  Mary 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age  477 

'Gusta,  he  describes  an  elderly  lady  in  Boston,  with  a  long 
pedigree,  and  small  means  to  support  her  ancestral  home  on 
Beacon  Hill,  as  taking  one  or  two  "paying  guests."  In 
the  eighteenth  century  this  practice  was  commoner  than  in 
the  nineteenth.  The  "guests"  were  carefully  selected,  and 
made  part  of  the  family.  The  first  were-  sons  of  old 
acquaintances,  Elijah  Waterman  and  Erastus  Huntington, 
one  coming  from  Bozrah  and  one  from  Norwich,  both 
Sophomores  in  College.  Soon  afterwards  came  some  older 
men,  who  were  studying  law  in  his  office.  During  a  large 
part  of  his  life  he  kept  up  this  early  practice.  Once  (in  1823) 
there  were  as  many  as  four  thus  added  to  his  household. 
These  were  girls  attending  school  at  New  Haven. 

He  also  occasionally  made  an  exchange  with  relatives  or 
friends,  by  which  they  would  receive  one  of  his  children  for 
a  few  months,  or  perhaps  for  a  year  or  two,  and  would  send 
him  one  of  theirs  to  take  the  vacant  place  and  participate 
in  the  educational  advantages  offered  by  New  Haven  in 
school  and  college.  Such  arrangements  were  made  with 
Rev.  Justus  Mitchell  of  Canaan,  John  Lovett  of  Albany  and 
Jeremiah  Evarts  of  Boston. 

When  a  term  of  court  was  to  be  opened  in  New  Haven,  or 
the  General  Assembly  met  there,  he  often  took  in  lawyers 
or  legislators  as  temporary  boarders  for  a  few  days  or  weeks. 
Their  company  enlivened  the  table-talk,  and  what  they  paid 
in  was  of  substantial  assistance  in  keeping  the  table  well 
spread.  He  liked  good  dinners,  topped  by  a  good  dessert, 
and  always  maintained  them. 

In  1792,  he  writes  from  court  at  Hartford  to  his  wife: 

"Mr  T.  Pitkin  has  spoken  for  Lodgings  with  us  during  the 
Sessions  of  Assembly.  I  told  him  I  thought  we  could  accom 
modate  him  if  he  brought  two  or  three  more  as  clever 
fellows  as  himself." 


478  Home  Life  and  Old  Age 

The  following  letter  from  Chief  Justice  Swift  is  one  of 
many  of  a  similar  nature: 

"Windham,  April  13th  1820. 
My  dear  Friend 

I  am  obliged  to  attend  the  Assembly  at  New 
Haven  as  a  Representative.  I  am  not  in  very  good  health 
and  having  met  with  a  heavy  loss  of  property  by  a  partner 
in  trade  my  feelings  are  so  depressed  that  the  bustle  and  noise 
of  a  tavern  or  common  boarding  house  would  be  very  painful 
to  me,  and  I  wish  for  the  quiet  of  a  private  family.  If  you 
could  admit  me  as  a  lodger  I  should  deem  it  a  particular 
favour  -  I  would  make  you  no  trouble  and  should  be  will 
ing  to  pay  you  what  you  deem  reasonable  -  From  the  com 
plexion  of  the  assembly  I  can  anticipate  nothing  but 
mortification,  and  the  consolation  of  your  friendship  will 
be  a  balm  to  my  wounded  spirit.  If  you  can  consent  to  my 
proposal,  I  will  thank  you  to  inform  me  by  the  mail  - 

I  am  with  great  esteem 

your  sincere  Friend 

Zephaniah  Swift 
Judge  Baldwin  " 

All  told,  his  cash  receipts  in  the  calendar  year  1788  were 
£77,  155,  4d,  and  his  cash  expenses  £75,  155,  7d.  His  first 
child  was  born  in  May. 

The  establishment  which  he  had  set  up  was  a  frugal  one, 
but  his  wife  was  not  unused  to  strict  domestic  economies. 
Her  home  before  her  marriage  had  been  a  modest  one.  Her 
new  one  was  but  little  more  so  than  that  which  she  left.  Her 
younger  sisters  helped  towards  paying  their  father's  house 
hold  expenses,  after  he  had  resigned  his  seat  on  the  bench, 
by  making  gloves.  On  March  6,  1790,  he  writes  from  New 
York,  where  Congress  was  then  sitting,  to  his  wife : 

"If  the  children  make  more  gloves  than  will  sell  at  New 
Haven  they  may  put  up  some  in  dozens  &  send  them  here  — 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age  479 

I  will  leave  them  to  be  sold  with  a  wholesale  merchant  that 
I  deal  with  who  may  sell  them  at  the  same  price  as  imported 
ones  —  If  Martin  Skins  can  be  procured  as  cheap  as  you 
mention  it  might  be  well  to  manufacture  Muffs  &  Tippets 
for  sale  - 

Mr.  Baldwin  bought  a  horse  and  chaise  in  1798.  He  had 
always  been  fond  of  riding  and  driving,  and,  indeed  a  horse 
was  almost  necessary,  in  view  of  his  possession  and  owner 
ship  of  a  farm  in  Hamden,  some  four  or  five  miles  from  the 
city.  His  barn,  with  stabling  for  a  horse  and  a  couple  of 
cows,  stood  a  hundred  feet  back  from  the  house,  and  by  its 
side  was  a  pig-sty.  During  his  later  years  he  found  less  use 
for  a  horse  and  gave  up  keeping  one. 

In  1806,  his  daughter  Rebecca,  then  a  girl  of  eighteen, 
paid  a  visit  to  her  Aunt  Hoar  at  Concord,  Massachusetts, 
and  began  to  ride  on  horseback  there.  He  wrote  her, 
expressing  his  approval  of  it,  and  adding: 

"But  while  I  have  said  so  much  in  favor  of  this  I  know 
you  have  too  much  good  sense  to  consider  this  among  the  first 
accomplishments  to  which  a  young  Lady  should  aspire.  You 
can  seldom  exhibit  yourself  in  that  attitude  -  -  you  will  every 
day  of  your  Life  be  called  to  exhibit  yourself  in  the  social 
circle.  In  this  you  should  also  be  more  ambitious  to  shine 
&  excel,  &  to  do  so  you  have  not  only  to  frequent  such  circles, 
but  while  enjoying  them  to  improve  by  them  -  -  always 
observe  the  manners  of  the  most  accomplished  &  the  most 
pleasing  -  -  find  out  what  it  is  that  makes  them  so  &  endeavor 
to  make  yourself  equally  so  -  -  not  by  a  servile  immitation 
which  is  always  unnatural  and  disgusting,  but  by  an  insen 
sible  assimilation  of  manners  which  will  always  be  acquired 
by  frequenting  good  company  with  a  resolution  to  endeavor 
always  to  your  utmost  to  make  yourself  acceptable  to  them  & 
to  please  them.  To  please  requires  a  determination  to  please 
-  &  such  determination  with  good  sense  &  good  breeding 
will  never  fail  —  " 


480  Home  Life  and  Old  Age 

His  wife  died  September  4,  1795,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one. 
They  had  had  four  children,  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 
One  of  the  sons  died  in  infancy.  One,  Ebenezer  Baldwin 
(Yale,  Class  of  1808),  became  a  lawyer  and  settled  in  Albany, 
where  he  was  Surrogate  and  Recorder,  and  in  1820,  one  of  the 
Staff  of  Governor  DeWitt  Clinton,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel. 
The  other,  Roger  Sherman  Baldwin  (Yale,  Class  of  1811), 
became  a  lawyer,  practicing  in  New  Haven,  and  was  Gov 
ernor  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  a  Senator  of  the  United 

States. 

i 

Mr.  Baldwin's  older  sister,  Bethiah  Baldwin,  took  charge 
of  his  household  on  his  wife's  death. 

On  April  22,  1800,  he  was  married  to  his  wife's  sister,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Sherman  Burr,  widow  of  Sturges  Burr,  a  mer 
chant,  first  in  New  Haven,  and  then  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
Shortly  before  his  removal  there,  on  May  7,  1795,  Mr.  Bald 
win  had  given  him  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Judge  Kent, 
in  which  he  says  that  Mrs.  Burr  is  "a  sensible  and  amiable 
woman."  She  fully  deserved  that  description. 

Marriage  to  a  deceased  wife's  sister  was  originally  for 
bidden  by  the  laws  of  Connecticut,  the  prohibition  being  first 
removed  at  the  May  Session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1793. 
The  repeal  of  the  old  law  was  no  doubt  in  part  due  to  the  loss, 
in  consequence  of  its  existence,  of  one  of  the  leading  lawyers 
of  Fairfield  County,  Judge  William  A.  Thompson  of  Green 
wich  (Yale,  Class  of  1782).  He  wished,  in  1791,  to  marry 
a  sister  of  his  deceased  wrife,  and  for  that  purpose  removed 
permanently  to  New  York,  where  no  law  forbade  it.1 

Mrs.  Baldwin  was  a  good  manager,  prudent  and  econom 
ical.  In  1804,  he  had  plans  drawn  for  an  addition  to  their 
homestead,  and  she  wrote  to  him  on  the  subject: 

"I  think  to  go  the  length  of  Banners  plan,  would  rather  be 
a  source  of  regret,  than  pleasure.  As  to  building  wholly  a 

1  Dexter,  Yale  Biographies  and  Annals,  4th  Series,  239. 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age  48 1 

new  house  it  undoubtedly  would  be  handsomer  &  might  be 
made  more  commodious.  Still  I  should  not  wish  to  become 
embarrased  by  doing  it.  or  straiten  ourselves  so  that  we  could 
not  accomplish  the  more  important  purposes  of  living  com 
fortably  &  educating  our  children  well." 

The  enlargement  of  the  house  was  completed  in  1806. 
The  dining-room  was  lengthened,  and  a  wing  added  contain 
ing  an  office  and  library,  with  two  large  and  well-lighted 
closets  for  papers,  and  several  bedrooms  above.  The  main 
house  had  been  built  close  to  the  street  line.  The  front  of 
the  addition  was  several  feet  east  of  it,  the  intervening  space 
being  occupied  by  an  unroofed  piazza.  A  southern  window 
in  the  dining-room  opened  on  the  piazza,  and  commanded  a 
prospect  of  the  Green.  Seated  or  standing  by  this  Judge 
Baldwin  was  generally  to  be  found,  after  he  reached  old  age. 

The  home-lot  covered  about  a  third  of  a  city  square.  It 
fronted  on  Church  Street,  and  his  dwelling  house  was  near 
the  center  of  it. 

In  1826  he  built  a  house  (still  standing)  on  the  corner  of 
Church  and  Wall  Streets,  for  his  son  Roger  S.  Baldwin.  It 
cost  about  $2,500,  and  a  rent  was  paid  of  at  first  $150  a  year 
and  afterwards  $200. 

He  brought  up  his  boys  in  the  habit  of  keeping  detailed 
cash  accounts,  and  of  earning  a  little  money  by  working  on 
the  family  place.  The  following  shows  that  his  son  Roger 
was  becoming  a  capitalist  at  thirteen. 

Simeon  Baldwin  Esqr  Dr  to  Roger  S.  Baldwin       S        D 
To  4  fowls  weighing  nine  Ib  at  6D  per  Ib  4  -  -  6 

To  Cash  lent  Mama  to  buy  raisins  4  -  -  o 


Receivd  payment  in  full  December  Ist  1806 

Roger  S.  Baldwin 
Novr  26,  1806.  Paid 


48 2  Home  Life  and  Old  Age 

As  they  grew  up  and  left  him,  he  hired  more  assistance  in 
cultivating  the  garden,  and  commonly  for  much  of  the  time 
had  a  regular  gardener  coming  in  for  a  day's  work,  every 
now  and  then,  as  well  as  a  chore-boy. 

In  his  office  and  library  were  many  law  books  and  a  modest 
collection  of  other  literature,  among  which  were  to  be  found, 
to  the  joy  of  his  grandchildren,  Gil  Bias,  Trumbull's  Mc- 
Fingal,  and  some  of  the  Waverley  Novels.  Part  of  his  law 
library  he  sold  to  his  son  Roger  S.  Baldwin  in  1837. 

He  loved  good  reading,  and  as  long  as  his  eyesight  re 
mained  unimpaired  read  a  great  deal.  Afterwards  came 
reading  aloud  to  him,  in  which  his  grandchildren  were  glad 
to  have  their  share. 

He  walked  on  fine  days  up  and  down  the  broad  box-lined 
paths  of  his  garden,  which  ended  in  a  small  orchard,  and  saw 
that  everything  there  was  receiving  proper  attention. 

His  wife,  who  was  devotedly  attached  to  him,  died,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four,  only  a  year  before  him. 

Unlike  his  contemporaries  and  fellow-townsmen,  Chief 
Justice  Daggett,  Elizur  Goodrich,  and  Noah  Webster,  he 
abandoned  the  use  of  short  clothes,  during  the  latter  period 
of  his  life,  though  he  always  wore  ruffled  shirts. 

Mr.  Baldwin's  oldest  daughter,  Rebecca,  born  in  1788,  and 
seven  years  old  when  her  mother  died,  outlived  him,  and 
never  married. 

Three  sons  and  two  daughters  were  the  issue  of  his  sec 
ond  marriage.  Two  of  the  sons,  Simeon  and  Charles, 
became  merchants  in  New  York  City;  the  third  died  in 
infancy.  Of  the  daughters,  one  lived  but  a  few  months. 
Another  (Elizabeth)  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
having  never  been  in  really  good  health. 

Neither  Simeon  nor  Charles  Baldwin  desired  a  college  edu 
cation.  Charles  was,  from  his  boyhood,  of  a  highly  nervous 
temperament.  At  first  he  was  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  his 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age  483 

brother  Simeon,  then  a  broker  and  commission  merchant  in 
New  York.  They  did  not  always  agree  as  to  what  he  should 
do  or  not  do.  He  was  irritable  and  discontented.  His 
father  wrote  thus  of  him  to  his  sister  Miss  Rebecca  Baldwin, 
in  July,  1826,  when  she  was  keeping  house  for  Simeon,  then 
unmarried,  in  New  York: 

"I  believe  Ch8  is  capable,  but  I  fear  his  temper  is  unyield 
ing  and  unaccommodating.  No  one  will  or  can  please  if 
he  does  not  try  to  please,  &  I  have  seen  so  much  of  the  world 
&  of  business  as  to  believe  that  few  who  are  determined  to 
please  &  use  every  endeavor  to  that  end  will  fail  of  success." 

It  was  not  long  before  Charles  set  up  in  the  same  business 
for  himself.  His  father  supplied  him  with  a  small  capital, 
which  was  soon  run  through.  His  brother  Simeon  gave  him 
credit  from  time  to  time,  to  a  much  more  considerable  extent, 
but  he  did  not  use  it  wisely.  Finally  he  failed  in  business; 
his  health  broke  down;  and  his  support  under  medical  treat 
ment  away  from  New  Haven  was  a  heavy  charge  on  his 
father  during  the  rest  of  the  latter's  life. 

His  son  Simeon's  original  capital  consisted  of  loans  from 
his  father  on  accommodation  notes  with  his  indorsement. 
In  1841,  he  too,  failed  in  business,  but  subsequently  retrieved 
his  losses,  and  with  the  aid  of  his  father  paid  off  those  to 
whom  he  had  been  indebted,  although  he  had  received  a  dis 
charge  from  the  courts.  Later,  prosperity  returned,  and  he 
became  President  of  the  Jackson  Marine  Insurance  Co.  and 
of  the  Merchants  Exchange  Company  of  New  York. 

The  health  of  Colonel  Ebenezer  Baldwin  failed  in  1829, 
and  he  came  back  to  his  father's  house  to  spend  his  remaining 
years  there,  dying  in  1837.  He  was  a  fine-looking  man, 
of  distinct  literary  attainments,  and  a  favorite  in  society. 
His  success  at  the  Albany  bar  had  been  considerable,  but 
he  had  laid  up  nothing.  In  1831  he  published  the  "Annals 


484  Home  Life  and  Old  Age 

of  Yale  College/'  and  in  1836  started  the  issue  of  the 
"American  Historical  Magazine/'  which  ran  for  a  few  num 
bers  and  died  when  he  did. 

Col.  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  when  living  in  Albany,  did  not 
write  home  as  often  as  his  father  would  have  liked,  and  the 
latter  once  remonstrated  thus : 

Simeon  Baldwin  to  Ebenezer  Baldwin. 

"New  Haven  Decr  3d  1816 
My  Dear  Son 

Neither  I  nor  any  one  of  my  family  have  received  a  Letter 
from  you  since  you  was  here  in  Septr  -  -  &  yet 
I  remain  your  affectionate 
father 

S.  Baldwin  - 
Ebr  Baldwin  Esqr 

Albany  - 

PS. 

I  had  written  the  above  with  a  determination  to  send  it 
without  writing  more  -  -  but  on  reflection  I  conclude  to  add 

•  The  family  enjoy  usual  health." 

"Since  you  was  here  the  Court  of  Errors  have  sat  in  this 
Town,  there  were  about  20  Cases  on  the  Docket  most  of  them 
unimportant.  -  

"R.  S.  B.  made  his  Debut  in  the  first  &  last  cases  stated 
with  Mr  R.  M.  Sherman  &  lost  them  both,  he  thinks  wrong- 
fully- 

Judge  Baldwin's  was  always  a  hospitable  house.  There 
were  few  classes  graduating  at  Yale  in  which  he  had  not 
some  acquaintances,  and  when  they  revisited  .the  College, 
some  of  them  were  apt  to  drop  in  there.  The  practice  of 
New  Year's  calls  prevailed  during  his  later  life,  and  on  one 
New  Year's  Day  (in  1842)  they  had  forty  calls.  In  1831  he 
invited  the  surviving  members  of  his  College  Class  to  cele- 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age 


485 


brate  the  semi-centennial  anniversary  of  their  graduation  by 
dining  together  at  his  house,  and  the  gathering  was  quite  a 
full  one.2 

A  New  England  farmer  ordinarily  feeds  his  family  partly 
from  what  his  farm  produces  and  partly  from  what  he  gets  for 
so  much  of  those  products  as  he  may  dispose  of  by  exchange 
at  a  neighboring  "general  store."  Not  much  cash  actually 
passes  through  his  hands.  Judge  Baldwin,  after  he  retired 
from  the  bench,  was  half  a  farmer.  A  large  share  of  his 
family  expenses  was  met  by  the  products  of  his  house-lot, 
and  the  farm  which  he  owned,  in  right  of  his  wife,  in  the 
adjoining  town  of  Hamden.  Part  he  consumed  at  his  own 
table  and  part  he  sold. 

The  following  entries  in  his  cash-book  serve  to  show  what 
money  he  received  and  paid  out  in  the  first  six  months  of  1829 
(which  may  be  taken  as  an  average  year). 


171 


1829  Dr  Cash  received 
Jany  5     To  City  Court  fees 
9     To  Agur  Tomlinson 

on  note  12.  - 

To  N.  H.  Bank  Dr  on 

ii  shares  77.  - 

Middletown  do  10 

shares  27o° 

Milford  TP.  C°  on 

15 60. 

do  for  ser 
vices  &c 
To  R.  S.  B.  house 

rent 
To  Patent  fees  of  B. 

Fairchild 
To  Dd  2  Wharf 
shares 


26. 

80. 

8 


1829     Cash  paid  out       Cr 
Jany  5     By  Tub  Butter  & 

tub  9.37 

7     BypdMansor          17.42 
Coffee  i.  soap  .14 
Candles  2.  3.14 

gave  George  for 

mittens  .17 

gave  change  to 

Eb.  .75 

Lent  Charles          5.  - 
9     By  Beef  .44,  Eels 

20  64 

ii     By  pd  Beriah  Brad 
ley  shoe  bill          11.88 
pd  for  flannel  2 

yards  1.34 


24 


2  A  similar  dinner  was  given  on  a  similar  occasion,  by  his  son,  Roger 
S.  Baldwin,  in  1861,  and  by  his  grandson  Simeon  E.  Baldwin,  in  1911 ; 
all  three  taking  place  in  houses  on  the  land  purchased  by  Simeon 
Baldwin  of  Dr.  Edwards  in  1795. 


486 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age 


27     To  Debt  of  East 

Haven  32.  - 

To  board  &c  Greeks3  61.62 


r    409-83 


1829 
Feby  D1 


12 


Cash  received 

Int  on  loan  to  School 

District  16.56 

To  Mr  Gibbs  for 

board  39-23 


45-79 
To  B.  B.  for  wood    4. 


49-79 


12 
13 
15 

16 

18 

21 
24 

26 
27 

31 


1829 
Feby 


1942 


Beef  .35  pd  Gaston 

Bill  19.07 
Beef  .66  Ind  meal 

1.56  2.22 

By  pd  Abner  Wooden 

work  &c  7.67 

Beef  .8254,  Sugar 

&  Tea  2  2.82^ 

Tools  .45,  Cheese  .86 

Pork  .45  1.76 

Turkey  .75,  curtain 

wires  .40  1.15 

Turkey  .54,  Beef  .52, 

Cid.  Bbbl.  .75  i  .81 
Ind  meal  1.89  .33  2.02 
Beef  .65,  Oil  & 

Coffee  1.95 
Fowls  .54,  Night 

Cap  .37 


2.60 


.91 


92.09 

e 


3  Stephen  G.  Galatti  (Yale,  Class  of  1829) 
(Yale,  Class  of  1830). 


Cash  paid  out 

2  By  Clams  25.  pd 

Johnson  25.          0.50 

3  By  beef  1.27.  Clams 

&C23  1.50 

7     By  sugar  2.  oil  32, 

fowl  25  3.17 

10     By  beef  .94,  (12) 

do  i. 06  2. 

12     Bypd.  Hull  & 

Townsend  36.12 

15     By  pd.  Stiles  for 
Land  in  Ham- 
den  18. 
By      Ch  4.  pd 

4.      8. 
17     By  oak  logs  from 

Mansor  3. 

veal.  50.  Mutton 

i. 06.  Beef  .802.31 
21     By  Indn  meal  i. 

Bran  1.14       2.14 
postages,  say      I. 

Pantoleon  G.  Galatti 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age 


487 


27 
28 


1829 

Mar. 

9 

15 


20 


Dr     Cash  recd 

To  City  O  fees.  .90 

To  Jackson  &  Tom- 

linson  on  note  40. 

To  J.  Carrington  Pd 

fees  &  misc.  5. 

To  Seeley  &  Atwater 

A  &  Cy  fees  5. 


1829 

Mar. 

2 


50-90 


10 

12 
13 
15 
17 

25 
26 

29 
30 


Tea  .75.  Eggs 

.50  &c  .25.       1.50 
contributions  25 

&  20  &  5  .50 

By  Beef  .50.  Black 
ing  .50  i. 
By  nutwood  3.12^2 

Fowles  &c  i.  4.12^2 


84.86 


Cash  Cr 

By  Honey  i.io. 

Sugar  2.  3.10 

By  Gordon's  Digest 

8.  Taylor's  do 

25  8.25 

By  Chy  50,  Coffee 

1.50  2. 

By  veal  .75—9  Beef 

35.  Salt  .12  1.22 
By  veal  .75,  apples 

.62  Cheese  40  i  .77 
By  Library  Tax  1.50 
By  Clams  .21.  Butter 

2.30  2.50 

oil  .92,  postage. 

•37^ 
By  Ld  nutwood  of 

Col  Warner 
By  pork  56  —  Beef 

1.24 
clams  .25.  postage 

37^ 
By  rice  1.12^.  Sugar 

2.  Veal  66          3.78*4 
By  Clams  21.  Calf 

Head  .50  .71 

bought  C  W 

Lumber  20.  20. 

20.  .60 

By  cash  sent  Charles 

in  trunk  10. 

By  veal  .78.  Tea  .75  1.53 
By  paid  Delia  for 

21  weeks          21. 


1-30 
5.50 
i.  80 


67.19 


488 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age 


1829 

April     Dr  Cash  recd 
7     To  City  Cfc  fees 


75 
75 


1829 
Apl.  i 

2.6 

7 
8 


10 


15 
18 


20 


25 
27 


1829 
May 


Dr  Cash  received 
7     ToT.  Smith  for 

board 
9     To  Hicock  for  his 

Note 

To  H  &  N.  H.  T  P. 
Divd 


May  i 
4 


10. 


10. 


Cash  paid  Cr 

By  postage  .65  meal 

1.74  2.39 

By  Candles  2.00  — 

Veal  53.  C  25  2.75 
By  Charity  .50. 

Blacking  37^  .87^ 
By  Pork,  leg  .82,  2 

Calf  Heads 

.25  1.07 

By  meal  &  Bn  of 

Gailord  3.08 

By  veal  40.  Shad  20  .60 
By  Sugar  2.  Cheese 

.40  2.40 

Butter  i.  Honey 

75  175 

By  Beef  .62  freight 

bill  wine  &c 

.52.  1.14 

By  2  Shad  37^  pd 

Mr  D.  E. 

Mason  3. 
IndMeal  i.  Bg. 

pd  Munson  2.  3.39 
postage  25.  6 
By  painting  fence 

1.20.  Beef  44 
By  coal  1.50.  veal 

40  fish  20.        2.10 
By  i  share  Turn 

P  stock  Mil- 

ford  108.00 


.31 
1.64 


16.25 


134.87 

Cash  pd  out       C* 
By  veal  &  fish  .50 

By  postage  25  &  22    .57 
Tea  &  Sugar  3. 

Butter  i  4. 

pd  Sherman  John 
son  4. 
By  veal  .35  pd  John 
son  i  Dr  1.35 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age 


489 


ii 


To  my  fees  of  Do  as 
Treasr  &c  in 
cluding  ex 
penses  112.09 

To  Calf  sold  to 

Warner  3.75 

To  Mra  Mack  Cash 

lent  in  1826      15.00 


167.09 


ii 

12 

18 

20 


22 


24 

25 


1829     Dr  Cash  received 
June  4     To  fees  of  Painter  & 

Eaton  i. 


1829 
Junes 


1.75 
37^ 


7. 


By  expenses  to  Hart 
ford  &  back,  Self 
&  Sons    say          7.27 
By  veal  40.  do  12^2 

Butter  i. 
By  veal  40  —  Butter 

1.30  1.70 

By  veal  39.  Shad  21  .60 
By  Potatoes  to  East 
man  2.00 

to  Warner 
to  Taylor, 

Peters 

to  Woodin 

By  Allen  for  plow 

ing 
Pardee  &  Team 

moving  dung    3. 
By  pd  Ball  for  labor 
2^  days  farm      1.75 
T.  Thompson  2 

days  i  .67^2 

to  boys  &  chil 

dren  say  .75 

By  gave  Ch  on  going 
to  N  Y  25. 

By  Lamb  .40  Lem 

.10 
By  Potatoes  of 

Woodin  in  full 
By  pd  Perkins  for 

Potatoes 
do  for  carting 

dung 

By  Cheese  .75,  G 
Seed  10, 


.50 


2.10 


8.75 


pd  Gaston  for  wag 
gon  &c 

pd  Hart  for  23  L 
Dung  23. 


.85 


102.90 

Cash  pd  out  Dr 

By  Lamb  &  veal  3 
days  i. 


490 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age 


9     To  Divd  Straits  T.  P. 

C°  10. 

To  board  of  Greeks, 

last  term  18.20 

To  other  advances 

for  them 


1 6     To  Jn°  Arnold  for 


24 


Patents 
To  fees  of  S. 
Andrews 


17.66 


IO.OO 


57.86 


By  pd  Pardee  for 
Plowing  &  hoeing 
corn  i 8/3 

Thompson  4/6     3.30 
5  to  8  By  meat  25  .40  .35.  i.oo 
9     By  pd  Chidsey  for 

Charles  Boots       7. 
By  Blacking  25  - 

Lamb  25.  .50 

ii     By  raisins  12^ 

Sperm  Candles 

60. 

Lamb  25.  Lem- 
mons  25. 


13 


18 


20 


22 


23 

24 

26 
30 


•50 
.62 


By  Peas  .37^  Lamb 

•25- 

By  peas  .16.  - 

Seeds  10  .26 

By  sugar  &  Tea       3. 
loaf  Sug.  & 

lump  2.95 

By  market,  sevn 

days  1.50 

By  tax  bible  so 
ciety  i. 

By  sail  on  Canal  & 
family  1.85 

By  Load  Coal,  no 
Bushels  9. 

By  veal  30.  Lemons 

25  -55 

By  meat  56.  Peas 

25  Lem  25  i. 06 

By  Glass  3.50.  Lamb 

18  3-68 

By  pd  Thompson 

hoeing  corn  2.75 
By  fish  28  P  12  .40 
By  meat  &  peas  to 

this  day  I. 

By  carting  hay  .25 


Jan5 


Summation  for  whole  year,  1829 

Recd.  paid 

408.83  Jany.  92.09 


43.89 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age  49 J 

Feby.  49.71  Feby.  84.86 

Mar.  50.90  Mar.  67.19 

•  509.44  244.14 

Ap.        .75           Apl.     134-87 
167.09                   102.90 
57-86                  43-89 
225.70  281.66 

July      291.34  July      105.49 

22.25  73.30 

74.77  109.97 

-  388.36  -    288.71 

Octr  91.24  96.11 

82.60  140.42 

12.56  72-51 

186.40  309-04 


1309-90  1123-55 

200.     lent  Ebn 


I323-55 

Judge  Baldwin  always  took  a  warm  interest  in  matters 
of  religion  and  in  the  maintenance  of  the  Christian  church. 
He  was  regular  in  his  attendance  on  public  worship,  and  kept 
up  the  institution  of  family  prayers  and  "grace  before  meat" 
in  his  household.  He  was  repeatedly  placed  on  important 
committees  of  the  "North  church"  (since  become  the  United 
Church),  with  which  he  was  connected,  and  the  ecclesiastical 
society  which  supported  it.  It  was  through  him  that  the  calls 
to  the  pastorate  were  generally  extended  and  by  him  that 
plans  of  financial  support  were  matured  and  put  in  proper 
form. 

The  creed  of  the  church  was  hyper-Calvinistic.  He 
became  a  member  of  it  by  profession  of  his  faith  when  in  the 
seventieth  year  of  his  age,  and  it  was  at  the  urgent  solicita 
tion  of  its  pastor.  Many  years  before,  his  wife  wrote  him, 
while  in  Washington  (in  November,  1804),  of  the  probabil- 


492  Home  Life  and  Old  Age 

ity  of  raising  a  fund  for  the  support  of  the  church  in  New 
Haven  which  they  attended,  then  about  to  pass  under  the 
charge  of  Rev.  Samuel  Merwin  (Yale,  Class  of  1802),  and 
also  of  her  purpose  to  become  a  communicant  in  it,  and  he 
replied  thus : 

"Washington,  Decr  gth,  1804. 
My  dear— 

I  am  happy  to  acknowledge  the  rec*  of  yours  of  the  2d  & 
the  latter  part  of  that  of  the  27th.  I  am  pleased  that  the 
prospect  is  so  flattering  respecting  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Merwin.  I  hope  the  fund  will  form  a  Basis  of  more  per 
manent  union  than  we  have  hitherto  experienced  in  that  Socy. 

I  have  no  doubt  of  the  beneficial  influence  which  a  regular 
clergy  &  religious  institutions  have  both  on  Society  &  private 
families,  if  I  needed  anything  to  convince  me  of  this,  more 
than  my  early  &  habitual  conviction  of  its  truth,  I  should 
at  once  be  confirmed  by  the  contrast  between  this  country  & 
our  own.  No  doubt  that  with  us  more  attention  is  paid  to 
these  subjects,  than  otherwise  would  be,  because  fashion  & 
habit  sanction  them,  at  least  the  outward  forms,  but  I  have 
doubt  that  much  good  arises  from  these  habits  &  this  fashion, 
notwithstanding  it  may  sometimes  be  the  vail  of  Hypocrisy. 
Of  this,  that  is,  Hypocrisy,  I  am  sure  there  is  but  little  occa 
sion  here,  that  is  among  the  citizens  -  -  few  indeed  attend 
meetings  and  none  are  blamed  for  their  absence  -  -  of  course 
generally  the  few  who  do  attend,  which  indeed  are  mostly 
women,  are  unusually  serious  &  devout.  -  And  as  still  less 
attention  is  paid  to  this  subject  as  you  go  farther  South  & 
more  especially  in  the  thinly  settled  parts  of  the  Country,  - 
were  the  Institutions  of  human  origin,  I  should  calculate 
they  must  inevitably  run  out  and  come  to  naught.  - 

I  highly  approve  of  the  intentions  of  your  sisters,  &  of 
your  own  serious  reflections.  I  have  thought  much  on  that 
subject  myself  &  nothing  but  the  difficulty  of  solving  some 
of  those  nice  questions  in  Theology,  which  I  am  more  & 
more  persuaded  have  nothing  to  do  with  morals  or  piety, 
has  hitherto  prevented  me.  I  hope  you  will  encourage  your 
own  reflections  &  be  enabled  by  divine  assistance  to  remove 


Home  Life  and  Old  Age  493 

the  difficulties  which  have  hitherto  prevented  you  from  mak 
ing  those  professions  which  it  is  doubtless  the  Duty  of  us  all 
to  make.  — 

I  would  write  more  but  it  is  time  to  close  the  mail 

I  am  with  sincere  affection 

faithfully  yours 

Simeon  Baldwin 
Mre  Eliza.  Baldwin" 

In  her  reply  she  writes : 

"It  affords  me  much  happiness  that  the  fascinating  Influ 
ence  of  fashionable  dissipation  -  -  does  not  weaken  your 
attachment  to  steady  Habits  &  good  principles  &  that  you 
still  relish  &  approve  of  attention  to  things  of  serious  & 
eternal  concern  -  I  hope  we  may  realize  much  satisfaction 
in  future  conversations  on  these  subjects,  &  in  united 
endeavors  to  educate  our  children  to  future  usefulness  — 
nice  questions  &  speculative  opinions  in  Theology  I  believe 
have  bewildered  many  &  I  think  with  you  that  they  have 
nothing  to  do  with  morals  or  piety." 

Judge  Baldwin,  as  an  old  man,  was  of  a  dignified  car 
riage, — rather  stately,  and  distinctly  venerable.  He  was  a 
little  less  than  six  feet  in  height,  and  well  proportioned. 
His  bearing  was  erect  and  his  step  firm,  though  growing 
slower,  until  his  last  illness. 

When  he  was  over  eighty,  a  spot  appeared  beneath  his 
right  eye,  which  afterwards  developed  into  a  spreading 
cancer.  In  a  few  years  it  reached  the  eye,  over  which  he 
afterwards  wore  a  silk  blind. 

Early  in  May,  1851,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine,  he  was 
seized  by  erysipelas.  At  that  period  it  was  common  in 
Congregational  churches  for  the  family  of  those  dangerously 
ill  to  request  the  church  to  offer  prayers  in  their  behalf. 
Shortly  after  this  attack  by  a  new  disease,  and  when  he  was 


494  Home  Life  and  Old  Age 

obviously  failing  fast,  he  dictated  the  following  notice  to 
be  read  in  church : 

"The  prayers  of  this  church  are  asked  for  Simeon  Bald 
win,  not  that  his  life  may  be  prolonged,  but  that  he  might 
have  increased  faith  and  a  peaceful  passage  into  heavenly 
rest." 

On  May  26  the  end  came,  and  on  May  28  the  funeral  took 
place  from  the  North  Church,  the  pastor,  Rev.  S.  W.  S. 
Button,  D.D.,  giving  an  address  which  was  subsequently 
published  under  the  title,  "A  Sketch  of  the  Life  and  Char 
acter  of  Hon.  Simeon  Baldwin." 


CHAPTER  XVI 
SUMMATION 

Biography  is  a  narrative  and  a  judgment.  Psychography 
(to  use  a  word  which  has  received  a  new  vogue  by  its  use 
in  Bradford's  "Naturalist  of  Souls'")  is  a  judgment  without 
a  narrative  or,  at  least,  with  the  least  possible  of  narrative. 
This  book  is  strictly  a  biography.  It  is  an  attempt  to  portray 
the  character  of  a  particular  individual,  and  to  present  him 
in  his  relation  to  his  surroundings.  The  environment  of 
any  man  is  largely  his  creator.  It  must  always  be  of  more 
interest  than  he.  His  achievements  and  his  failures  cannot 
be  justly  measured  without  first  taking  into  account  what 
it  was. 

This  book  has  been  written  by  one  of  the  descendants  of 
Simeon  Baldwin,  and  primarily  for  the  information  of  all  of 
them.  It  is  a  record  of  facts  from  which  any  one  can  form 
his  own  conclusions.  The  biographer  has  formed  his,  and 
among  them  this:  that  his  grandfather  was  not  a  great 
scholar,  a  great  lawyer,  a  great  statesman,  or  a  great  judge. 
In  every  line  of  action  which  he  undertook  to  pursue  he  out 
distanced  mediocrity;  but  nowhere  did  he  attain  the  highest 
rank. 

It  would  have  been  almost  an  impertinence  to  make  his  life, 
nearly  a  hundred  years  after  its  close,  the  subject  of  a  book, 
had  he  not  left  a  collection  of  papers  which  both  mirrored 
his  character  and  threw  a  strong  light  on  the  times  in  which 
he  lived.  He  kept  most  of  the  letters  which  he  received, 
and  copies  of  most  of  those  he  wrote.  He  kept  his  lawyer's 
briefs  and  judge's  notes.  Whoever  has  read  the  previous 
chapters  has  noticed  how  many  other  papers  of  various 
kinds  his  care  preserved. 


49^  Summation 

His  character  is  best  shown  by  his  correspondence.  We 
can  judge  of  a  man  from  the  letters  which  he  receives,  almost 
as  well  as  from  those  which  he  writes.  Noscitur  a  sociis. 

Very  few  of  Simeon  Baldwin's  letters  were  written  with 
a  view  of  publication.  He  had  no  thought  of  laying  founda 
tions  for  a  future  biography,  or  for  any  historical  inquiry 
into  the  features  of  his  times. 

A  close  student  of  American  literature1  has  said  that  "the 
United  States  has  not  been  rich  in  self-written  history." 
Nor  is  what  now  exists  of  that  character  in  a  country  so  new 
as  likely  to  be  trustworthy  as  if  it  had  been  the  product  of 
to-day.  In  its  nature,  it  may  not  unfairly  be  said  that  what 
is  self-written,  and  written  as  a  work  of  history,  cannot  be 
true.  No  man  knows  himself.  No  man  fully  knows  the 
characteristics  of  his  times.  No  man  can  have  that  knowl 
edge  of  the  facts,  attending  his  life,  which,  if  they  were  of 
public  concern,  all  men  may  have,  two  or  three  generations 
afterwards.  The  biography  is  rare  that  has  not  something 
in  it  which  serves  to  modify  statements  in  preceding  biog 
raphies. 

There  are  a  few  turning  points  in  every  life.  Those  in 
Simeon  Baldwin's  were  the  decision  not  to  remain  in  Albany, 
with  a  view  of  studying  and  practicing  law  there ;  his  declin 
ing  a  nomination  for  reelection  to  Congress ;  his  acceptance 
of  a  seat  on  the  bench;  and  the  downfall  of  the  Federalist 
party. 

In  all  probability  he  would  have  secured  a  larger  practice 
at  the  Albany  bar,  had  he  chosen  in  1782  to  remain  there; 
he  would  have  gained  more  political  prominence,  had  he  gone 
back  to  Washington  in  1805 ;  and  he  would  have  remained 
on  the  bench  until  he  reached  the  age  of  seventy,  had  the 
Democrats  not  controlled  the  legislature  in  1818. 

1  Worthington  C.  Ford. 


INDEX 


Adams,  John  Quincy,  charges  of  con 
templated  secession,  337 ;  dines  with 
Jefferson,  445;  attacks  on  courts, 
453;  ranked  as  a  Democrat,  454 

African  Society,  The,  313-317 

Agriculture,  promotion  of,  320-322 

Albany,  academy,  86;  description  of 
place,  87;  watchmen,  95;  freshet 
at,  125-127;  map  of,  177 

Almshouses,  323 

Alston,  Willis,  Jr.,  346 

America,  forecast  of  the  future,  205; 
ideals,  271 

American  Historical  Magazine,  484 

Anarchiad,  The,  395 

Andover,  Theological  Seminary,  470 

Anti-Federalists,  393 

Arms,  promoting  manufacture  of,  428- 
430 

Armstrong,  Gen.  John,  449-451 

Army  of  the  U.  S.  in  1793,  4 ;  405 ;  407 ; 
reducing,  415;  sneered  at  by  Ran 
dolph,  416;  standing,  389,  415 

Assistants,  Governor's  Council,  and 
Supreme  Court,  353;  primary  elec 
tions,  353,  354;  Federalist  control, 
361 

Atwater,  Rev.  Noah,  22,  57 

Augur,  Hezekiah,  472 

Austin,  Rev.  David,  54 

Autobiographies,  496 

Backus,  Rev.  Charles,  4,  315,  384-386 
Mrs.  Esther,  4,  87 
Oliver,  4 

Bacon,  Lord,  on  letter  writing,  384 

Baker,  on  Learning,  129 

Baldwin,  Mrs.  Bethiah,  i,  4 
Miss  Bethiah,  4,  Ride  to  Danbury,  5 
Charles,  482,  483 
David,  7 
Dorothea,  7 

Captain  Ebenezer,  i ;  descent  and 
character,  10;  youth,  13;  local  of 
fices,  13,  14,  15 ;  his  Norwich  home, 
14;  investments,  14;  estate,  16; 
owned  a  slave,  16;  letter  from,  86; 
blindness,  144 

Col.  Ebenezer,  366,  480,  483,  484;    ap 
pointed    surrogate,    468;     recorder, 
480 
Ebenezer  of  Yonkers,  7 


Rev.  Ebenezer,  i ;  army  chaplain,  3 ; 
biography,  369 

Edward,  of  Sussex,  10 

Miss  Elizabeth,  482 

John,  10;  emigration  here,  and  local 
offices,  ii,  12 

John,  Jr.,  12 

Mary,  3,  7,  47,  244 

Oliver,  7,  14 

Miss  Rebecca,  471,  479,  482 

Governor  Roger  S.,  2,  365,  480,  481, 
484 

Simeon,  ancestry,  i ;  boyhood,  i ; 
school  days,  3 ;  family  surroundings, 
3,  6;  at  Yale,  18;  studies  Hebrew, 
19;  tutor  at  Yale,  180;  skirmish  at 
Neck  Bridge,  58;  a  resident  gradu 
ate  at  Yale,  76;  and  schoolmaster, 
76 ;  schoolmaster  at  Albany,  86 ;  and 
read  law,  92,  93 ;  nom  de  plume, 
Adolphus,  50;  private  tutor,  279; 
City  Clerk,  280;  earnings,  280,  284, 
476;  Clerk  of  District  Court,  280; 
farm  in  Hamden,  479,  485 ;  death  of 
wife,  480 ;  second  marriage,  480, 
482;  property  owned,  281,  284,  371- 
374, 476 ;  buys  a  house,  281 ;  active  in 
politics,  290 ;  in  Congress,  328 ;  on  the 
bench,  353;  dress,  style  of,  351,  482; 
a  slave-holder,  7,  313;  household 
establishment,  476 ;  cash  in  and  cash 
out,  485-491 ;  house,  480,  481 ;  li 
brary,  482;  interest  in  religion,  492; 
mayor,  310;  legal  practice  after 
1818,  363  ;  patent  solicitor,  363  ;  of 
fice  seeking,  366;  church  connec 
tions,  491-494 ;  death,  494 

Letters  to  Simeon  Baldwin  from 
Tutor  Noah  Atwater,  58;  Rev. 
Charles  Backus,  315 ;  Bethiah  Bald 
win,  242;  Dorothea  Baldwin,  7; 
Capt.  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  86;  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Baldwin,  480,  493 ;  Mrs. 
Esther  Baldwin,  87;  Mary  Baldwin, 
8,  29;  Simeon  Breed,  254;  Miss 
Betsey  Bushnell,  36,  38;  Henry 
Channing,  239;  Jabez  Colton,  442; 
Simeon  Colton,  56;  David  Daggett, 
436,  441 ;  444,  461,  463 ;  Miss  Nancy 
Dibble,  40;  Pierpont  Edwards,  448; 
Calvin  Goddard,  331,  363 ;  Elizur 


498 


Index 


Goodrich,  181,  182,  413-416,  417-435, 
455,  458,  473;  Dr.  John  Goodrich, 
245;  Stanley  Griswold,  272,  402; 
Prince  B.  Hall,  402;  Robert  Henry, 
Jr.,  187;  James  Hillhouse,  412,  413, 
424,  430,  435,  436,  437,  448,  453-455 ; 
George  Hough,  49-54,  81,  82;  Ben 
jamin  Isaacs,  54-56,  78,  79;  James 
Kent,  2,  154,  158-160,  162,  168,  233, 
236,  243,  246,  392,  394;  Rev.  Justus 
Mitchell,  352 ;  Enoch  Perkins,  82-85, 
151-154,  395 ;  Hon.  Timothy  Pitkin, 
444-447,  449-452;  Chief  Justice 
Reeve,  358;  Senator  Truman  Smith, 
474;  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague,  369;  Dr. 
josiah  Strong,  404,  408;  Col.  Ben 
jamin  Tallmadge,  440,  447;  Dirck 
Ten  Broeck,  271 ;  Uriah  Tracy,  411 ; 
Noah  Webster,  333,  351 ;  Freder 
ick  Wolcott,  466;  Miss  Lois  Wood, 

44 

Letters  from  Simeon  Baldwin,  to 
Tutor  Atwater,  57;  Rev.  Charles 
Backus,  384-386;  Bethiah  Baldwin, 
231,  245;  Dorothea  Baldwin,  8; 
Capt.  and  Mrs.  Ebenezer  Baldwin, 
232;  Col.  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  458, 
465,  467,  470,  484;  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
S.  Baldwin,  329,  332,  340,  342-344, 
345-350,  357,  468,  477,  492;  Rebecca 
Baldwin,  479,  483;  Roger  S.  Bald 
win,  341 ;  Miss  Betsey  Bushnell,  35, 
37,  39;  David  Daggett,  342;  Eph- 
raim  Fenno,  276;  Elizur  Goodrich, 
440;  James  Gould,  338;  Benjamin 
Isaacs,  77,  78,  241 ;  Isaac  Jones,  443  ; 
James  Kent,  160,  171,  172,  392;  Wil 
liam  Kent,  20;  Judge  Lewis,  438; 
John  Lovett,  461 ;  Jared  Mansfield, 
438;  Solomon  Porter,  34,  35;  Chief 
Justice  Reeve,  360;  Miss  Betsey 
Sherman,  251 ;  Rebecca  Sherman, 
91,  255,  257,  260,  263;  Roger  Sher 
man,  403 ;  Samuel  &  Peter  Talman, 
282;  General  Ten  Broeck,  268; 
Uriah  Tracy,  410;  Rev.  J.  H. 
Turner,  464 ;  Miss  Lois  Wood,  42- 
44,  45,  46 

Baldwin,  Simeon,  Jr.,  347,  482,  483 
Sylvester,  n 
Thomas,  10,  12 

Balls,  6,  77,  108,  130,  132,  189;  Com 
mencement,  204;  Election,  202; 
Ordination,  203 

Bankrupt  Act,  329,  417 

Banks,  New  Haven,  371,  374;  Eagle, 
374,  375,  476 

Baptists,  465 


Bar,  of  Conn.,  267,  395;    of  S.  C,  391; 

of  R.  I.,  414 
Barker,  John,  I 

Rev.  Nehemiah,  i 
Barlow,  Hon.  Joel,  74 
Bartholomew,  Phineas,  116 
Bayard,  R.  Williams,  415 
Bean  Hill,  14 
Beardsley,  Dr.,  188 
Beecher,  Rev.  Thomas  K.,  47 
Beers,  Hon.  Isaac,  202 

Miss  Elizabeth,  202,  234 

Miss  Sally,  202 
Benham,  Silas,  30 
Bennington,  Vt,  mails  to,  87;    battle  of, 

92 

Benson,  Hon.  Egbert,  432 
Bidwell,  Hon.  Barnabas,  445 
Biography,  office  of,  495 
Birchard,  Hannah,  10 
Bird,  Rev.  Samuel,  201 
Bishop,  Abraham,  294,  361,  366,  441,  471 

Samuel,  294 
Boarders,  277,  281,  476 
Bonaparte,  Mrs.  Jerome,  345 
Boston,  220,  471 
Bozrah,  14,  15,  29,  144 
Branding  criminals,   103 
Breed,  Simeon,  254 
Brister,  old,  30 
Bristo,  7,  313 

Brothers  in  Unity,  24,  66,  78 
Brown  University,  218 
Browne,  Samuel,  230 

Miss  Betsy,  230 
Buck,  Josiah,  143 
Buckminster,  Mrs.  Joseph,  224 
Bunker  Hill,  2 

Burr,  Col.  Aaron,  94;  contest  for  the 
Presidency,  423-428;  plots  of,  453 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Sherman,  480 
Bushnell,  Miss  Betsey,  35-40 
Canals,    Farmington,   376-383;    city   aid 

to,  378-391 
Carter,  William,  436 
Cass,  Gen.  Lewis,  473 
Caucus,  300,  435,  454,  466 
Channing,   Rev.   Henry,   152;    character 
of,    234,    265 ;     estrangement    from, 

469 

Chase,  Justice  Samuel,  impeachment  of, 
348-350,  438,  443,  444 

Chauncey,  Hon.  Charles,  as  a  law- 
teacher,  85,  275;  elected  judge,  400 

Checkley,  Mrs.  Mary,  150 

Chelsea,  10 

Cherokees,  327 

Chesterfield's  Letters,  5,  98,  248 


Index 


499 


Christmas,  Merry,  18 

Cincinnati  in  1794,  407 

Civil  Law,  admiralty  pleadings,  403 

Clinton,  Gov.  DeWitt,  460,  468,  480 
Gov.  George,  394 

Cloverack,  124,  128,  178 

Clubs,  Moot  Court  Club,  274;  Friendly 
Society,  282 

Cochran,  Col.,  103,  124 
Dr.,  in 

Cohoes,  Falls  at,  96 

Colonization  Society,  317 

Colton,  Jabez,  7,  9,  201,  442 
Rev.  Simeon,  7,  230 

Comet  of  1784,  191 

Common-place  book,  270 

Common  and  Undivided  Lands,  325 

Comstock,  Miss  Patty,  187,  200 

Confederation,  Articles  of,  287,  385 

Congress,  of  the  confederation,  election 
of  representatives  in  the,  63;  com 
mittees  of,  419;  of  the  U.  S.,  under 
the  U  S.  Constitution,  332 

Connecticut,  Peters'  History,  191 ;  desire 
for  a  Constitution,  441,  442;  fram 
ing  a  constitution  for,  in  1818,  297, 

302,  465 ;    opposition  to  its  ratifica 
tion,  303,  467;    system  of  taxation, 
304;    few  rich  men  in,  345;    change 
of  judicial  system,  353;    over-popu 
lated,  394 ;  manufactures,  394 ;  legis 
lative  action  on  the  Embargo,  455 

Connecticut  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sci 
ences,  318 

Connecticut  Society  for  the  Promotion 
of  Good  Morals,  319 

Constitution  of  Connecticut,  before  1818, 
386,  441,  442;  framing  of  in  1818, 
297,  302,  465 ;  opposing  ratification, 

303,  467 

Constitution  of  the  United  States,  288, 

293 ;    Twelfth   Amendment,  334-337 
Convention    of    1787,    390;     ratification 

considered    probable,    392;     implied 

powers  of  self-preservation,  428 
Continental  money,  58 
Copyrights,  333 
Corporations,  growth  of  after  1789,  371 ; 

investments  in,  371 
Courant,  Connecticut,  2,  291 
Courts,  Supreme  Court  of  the  U.  S.,  408 ; 

Superior     Court     of     Conn.,     353 ; 

Supreme  Court  of  Errors,  355 ;  U.  S. 

District  and  Circuit  Courts,  clerk's 

office,  404 
Coxsackie,  124 
Crisis,    "The,"  302 
Crocker,  Daniel,  118 


Culver,  Benjamin,  7 

Daggett,  Hon.  David,  243,  267,  294,  369, 

436,  441,  463 
Rev.  Napthali,  18,  23 

Danbury,  2 

Dancing,  4,  48,  77,  78 

Day,  Thomas,  355 

Deaf  and  Dumb,  education  of,  319 

Deane,  Hannah,  143 
Sarah,  i 
Silas,  i 

Dearborn,  Gen.,  458 

Death,  Drelincourt  on,  128 

Denison,  Charles,  285,  463 

Derby  Fishing  Co.,  374 

Dexter,  Hon.  Samuel,  426 

Dibble,  Miss  Nancy,  40,  41,  46 

Dinner  parties,  at  the  White  House,  344 

District  of  Columbia,  330 

Divinity,  student  of,  240 

Drinking,  social,  88,  120 

Dress,  a  man's  wardrobe  in  1805 

Duer,  Col.  Wm.,  93 

Duelling,  346 

Dutch,  population  in  Albany,  88 ;  man 
ners,  92;  funerals,  95 

Dwight,  President  Timothy,  23,  463 

Dyckman,  Miss  Katy,  124,  137 

Dyer,  Col.  Eliphalet,  400 

Eagle  Bank,  374,  375 

Easter,  138 

Eaton,  Gen.  Wm.,  446 

Edwards,  Judge  Pierpont,  267,  441,  448, 
449,  453  J  income  from  practice,  279 

Egremont,  178 

Election  campaigns,  management  of,  290; 
mode  of  nomination  at  primaries, 
299,  300,  343 

Election  dinners,  315 

Elective  franchise,  300 

Ellery,  Hon.  William,  82 
Mrs.  William,  83 

Ellsworth,  Chief  Justice  Oliver,  bust  of, 
472 

Embargo,  453 

Engagement  of  marriage,  244 

Episcopalians,  463,  466 

Evarts,  Jeremiah,  470,  477 

Farm,  483 

Farmington  Canal,  376-383 

Federalist  party,  members  keep  aloof 
from  Democrats,  343 ;  strength,  in 
Conn.,  361,  393 ;  in  N.  Y.,  459 

Fitch,  Asa,  50,  144 

Florida  purchase,  451 

Floyd,  Miss  P.,  106 

Fort  Washington,  406,  407 

Foster,  Hon.  Dwight,  419 


500 


Index 


Fourth  of  July,  in  1789,  oration,  287 

France,  alliance  with,  60;  hostilities,  in 
1798,  412;  special  missions  to,  413, 
418;  treaty  with,  424,  425,  426 

French  language  studied,  202 
revolution,  418 

Funerals,  Dutch,  95 
New  Haven,  200 

Gallatin,  Albert,  415,  446 

Games,  Whackets,  100;  all-cheese-romp- 
ing-dance,  100;  cards,  118,  123; 
chess,  118 

Genet,  Citizen,  411 

Georgia  land  speculations,  422,  441 

Georgetown,  D.  C,  345 

Gibbs,  Henry,  222 
Mrs.  Henry,  222 

Giles,  Senator  Wm.  B.,  462 

Goddard,  Hon.  Calvin,  331,  363 

Goodhue,  Mrs.  Stephen,  222 

Goodrich,  Elizur,  145,  181,  294;  corre 
spondence  with,  413,  415,  417-428, 
429-435,  458;  letter  to  David  Dag- 
gett,  416;  Collector  of  Port  of  New 
Haven,  432,  434;  removal,  440 
Dr.  John,  145,  183 

Goshen,  89,  142 

Gould,  Dr.  Wm.,  Jr.,  194 

Governor,  functions  of  a  Connecticut, 
290 

Graham,  T.  V.,  135 

Greene,  Governor  Wm.,  209 
Miss  Celia,  209,  210 

Greenwich,  209 

Greenwoods,  179 

Griswold,  Senator  Stanley,  273,  402 
Hon.  Roger,  332 

Hall,  Prince  B.,  402,  485 

Hamden,  farm  in,  485 

Hartford  Convention,  363 

Harvard,  in  1777,  26,  27,  153;  visit  to, 
221,  456 

Hillhouse,  Senator  James,  284,  338;  in 
terest  in  turnpikes,  372;  corre 
spondence  with,  412,  413,  424,  430, 
435-437,  445,  448,  450,  453-455 ;  con 
fidences  with,  463 ;  re-election,  469 

Hinkly,  Miss  Lois,  9 

Hitchcock,  Hon.  Samuel,  432 

Hogoboom,  Miss  P.,  no 

Holmes,  Tutor  Abiel,  264 

Honywood,  St.  John,  25,  141 

Hopkins  Grammar  School,  318 

Horseback  rides,  89,  208,  479 

Horse  races,  135,  340-342 

Horsford,  Miss  Polly,  143 

Hospital,  New  Haven,  325 

Hough,  George,  49-54,  81,  82 


Impeachment,  of  Mr.  Justice  Chase,  348- 
350,  438;  of  Judge  Pickering,  440; 
of  five  Conn,  justices  of  the  peace, 
441,  442 

Inoculation,  for  small  pox,  no 
Insurance  companies,  372,  374,  376 
Intoxicating  liquors,  Temperance  move 
ments,  325-327 
Iredell,    Justice,    correspondence    with, 

409,  410 

Isaacs,  Benjamin,  52,  54-56,  165 
Jackson,     President    Andrew,    appoint 
ments  to  office,  366 
Jay's  treaty,  409,  410 
Jefferson,    Thomas,    revision    of    draft 
statute  as  to  marshal's  bonds,  340; 
the  election  for  his  first  term,  423, 

434 

Johnson,  Peter,  31 

Judd,  Major  Wm.,  441 

Judges,  abolition  of  office,  435;  qualifi 
cations  for  U.  S.  Supreme  Court, 

474 

Judiciary,  Connecticut  system  of  appoint 
ment,  299 

Judiciary  Act  of  Congress,  defects  in, 
410;  abolition  of  Circuit  Judge- 
ships,  435 

Kent,  Chancellor  James,  i,  79;  corre 
spondence  with — letters  from  J.  K. 
to  S.  B.,  2,  154,  158-160,  162,  168, 
204,  233,  236,  243,  246,  394;  letters 
J.  K.  from  S.  B.,  156,  160,  166,  171, 
172 

King,  Rufus,  468 

Kissing,  143,  211 

Knapp,  Deacon,  2 

Langdon,  Hon.  John,  224 

Lansing,  A.,  135 
Miss  Gitty,  136 
Mrs.  P.,  137 
Miss  Sally,  103,  104,  no,  120,  141 

LaFayette,  Welcome  to  Boston  in  1784, 
228 

Lathrop,  Ezra,  4 


Simeon,  49 
i,  C( 
226 


LaTombe,  Consul  Joseph  Philippe,  220, 


Lawful  money,  15 

Lay,  Abigail,  12 

Legal  education,  243,  266;   in  offices,  95, 

275,  277,  278 
Legal    practice,    in    South    Carolina    in 

1786,  391 
Legionville,  405 

Legislature,  composition  of,  301 
Letters,    importance    of    in    judging    a 

man's  character,  384,  496 


Index 


SGI 


Libraries,  Subscription,  319 

Light,  reflection  of,  136 

Linonian  Society,  24 

Litchfield,  89 

Louisiana  purchase,  452 

Lovett,  Hon.  John,  86,  88,  477 

Lyman,  Major,  152 

Lynn,  222 

Madison,  President,  French  policy,  411 

Mail,  irregularity  of,  38,  42,  51,  87; 
danger  of  thefts  from,  424;  post 
riders,  87 

Manning,  President,  216 

Mansfield,  Col.  Jared,  438 

Marblehead,  222 

Marshal,  bond  of,  339 

Marshall,  Chief  Justice,  418 

Mason,  Jeremiah,  277 

Massachusetts,  politics  in  1804,  443 

Mead  houses,  174 

Medford,  222 

Meigs,  Josiah,  151 
Mrs.  Josiah,  151 

Merry,  British  minister,  343 

Merwin,  Rev.  Samuel,  492 

Messes  at  Washington,  343,  345 

Militia,  458;    Irish  companies,  474 

Ministerialists,  The,  436 

Miranda,  450 

Mitchell,  Rev.  Justus,  352,  476 
Chief  Justice,  332 

Mohegan,  144 

Monarchy,  in  the  U.  S.,  387 

Money,  Continental,  58 
Lawful,  15 

Montague,  History  of  Miss  Emily,  127, 
129 

Morse,  Jedidiah,  87,  259,  265 

Moseley,  Wm.,  279 

Moyse,  Dr.,  217,  234 

Naturalist  of  Souls,  495 

Neutrality,  445 

Newburyport,  223,  225 

Newell,  Rev.  Samuel,  179 

New  England  Confederacy,  337-339 

Newent,  208 

New  Haven,  harbor  frozen,  192;  first 
City  meeting,  193;  prospects  for 
law  business,  268;  trade  of,  268- 
270;  list  of  slaves  in,  in  1790,  312; 
The  African  Improvement  Society 
in,  318;  subscription  libraries  in, 
319;  new  cemetery  in  1797,  320,  412; 
Horticultural  Society,  322;  Green, 
463 ;  churches  on  the  Green,  464 ; 
banks,  371,  374,  375  ;  insurance  com 
panies,  372,  374,  376 ;  savings  banks, 
375 ;  Farmington  Canal,  378-383 


New  Haven  County  Agricultural  So 
ciety,  320 

New  Haven  County  Temperance  So 
ciety,  326 

New  Milford,  2 

Newport,  211,  414 

New  Year's  Day,  Presidential  Recep 
tion,  445 ;  calls,  484 

Nicholas,  Senator,  415 

Nichols,  Col.,  99 

Niles,  Senator  John  M.,  473 

Nobletown,  90,  142 

Norfolk,  90 

North  Haven,  199 

Northwestern  Territory,  421 

Norwich  town,  9;  Bean  Hill,  10;  Chel 
sea,  10 

Office,  appointments  to,  316,  437;  re 
movals  from,  294,  434,  438-440 

Oneida  Indians,  137 

Oregon,  boundaries,  474 

Organs,  church,  93,  214 

Party,  spirit,  343,  436;    names,  436,  440, 

445 

Patent  solicitor,  332,  383,  404 
Patterson,  Justice,  430 
Pauperism,  323 
Pause,  138 
Pawtuxet,  219 
Payne,  George,  10 
Peabody,  Captain,  9 
Peace,  project  of,  64;   celebration  of  in 

1783,  138,  147-149 

Perkins,  Enoch,  a  teacher  at  Newport, 
80 ;  correspondence  with,  82,  85,  151, 
400,  401 ;    visit  from,  195 ;    visit  to, 
228;    character  of,  234 
Pettibone,  D.,  401 
Peyster,  De,  Miss  Nancy,  133 
Phelps,  Noah,  401 

Phi  Beta  Kappa,  62,  120,  145,  150,  286 
Pickering,  Judge  John,  440 

John,  Jr.,  456 

Timothy,  337 
Picnic,  145 
Pierpont,  John,  30 
Pinckney,  Charles  Cotesworth,  423 
Pitkin,  Rev.  Timothy,  43 

Hon.  Timothy,  249,  444-447,  466,  477 

Miss  Betsey,  143 

Miss  Anna,  143,  250,  349 

Judge,  400 
Plainfield,  208,  250 
Polk,  President,  475 
Porter,  Solomon,  34,  69 
Portsmouth,  225 
Prayers,  College,  184 


502 


Index 


Precedence,  official,  at  College  chapel, 
151 ;  at  White  House,  343 

Presentation  Day  at  Yale,  202 

President  of  the  United  States,  mode  of 
election,  423-428,  431 

Primaries,  Conn,  system  of,  299,  300,  353 

Protective  Tariff,  475 

Providence,  R.  L,  Appearance  of,  316; 
Lawyers  in,  414 

Psychography,  495 

Putnam,  Gen.  Rufus,  438 

Raggamuffions,  416 

Railroads,  unfriendly  to,  367 

Randolph,  John  of  Roanoke,  346,  349, 
416,  449,  45i,  452 

Reeve,  Judge  Tapping,  295,  358-360 

Religion,  revivals  of,  465 

Revolutionary  War,  Bunker  Hill,  2; 
French  troops  at  Lebanon,  5 ;  Yale, 
during,  21;  enlistments  slow,  29; 
enlisting  slaves,  30;  surrender  of 
Cornwallis,  80;  celebration  in  honor 
of,  81  ;  Final  Peace,  134;  celebra 
tion  of,  135,  147-149 

Richards,  Guy,  286 

Robbins,  Hon.  Asher,  79 

Rogers,  Miss  Sally,  144 

Rossiter,  Sheriff  Nathaniel,  437 

Roxbury,  Mass.,  220 

Russell,  Matthew  T.,  206 
Samuel,  79 

Russia,  mediation  of,  461 

Sabbatarianism,  91,  97,  241 

St.  Domingo,  447,  448 

St.  Memin,  portrait  by,  351 

Saint  Patrick's  day,  134 

Saratoga,  122 

Savings  Banks,  375 

Schenectady,  121 

Schuyler,  Major,  94,  96,  100 
General,  122 
Miss  Peggy,  122 

Schuyler's  Tavern,  Albany,  100 

Secession,  337 

Senate,  U.  S.,  a  permanent  body,  427 

Seneca,  95 

Sessions,  Lt.  Gov.  Darius,  218 

Shays'  Rebellion,  273,  386,  389 

Sheffield,  178 
Miss  Lucy,  210,  211 

Sherman,  Miss  Betsey,  235,  249,  251 
Rev.  Josiah,  89 

Miss  Rebecca,  9,  85,  146,  151,  152,  184, 
188,  189,  191,  198,  199,  201,  203,  240 
Hon.  Roger,  26,  85,  193,  278;  writes 
Judge  Law,  280 ;  had  a  frugal  house 
hold,  478;  his  children  help  to  pay 
the  expenses,  478;  character,  408 


Roger,  Jr.,  279 
Roger  Minot,  285 
Silliman,  Gold  S.,  413 
Slavery,   16,  289,  311;    list  of  slaves  in 

New  Haven  in  1790,  312,  313 ;   Slave 

trade,  314 

Smallpox,  inoculation  for,  no,  201 
Smith,  Senator  John,  453 

Senator  Truman,  474 
Society,  polite,  customs  of,  balls,  6,  88, 

120,  202-204;    accepting  a  kiss,   55, 

77,     143,     21 1 ;      drinking,     325-327; 

ladies'  dress,  345 
Somers,  9 
Sprague,     Annals      of      Congregational 

Ministers,  369 
Springfield,  201 
Steele,  Gen.  John,  426 
Stenographers,  441 
Sterling,  Gen.  Wm.  A.,  121 
Sterne,  115,  123,  256 
Steuben,  petition  of  Gen.  von,  294 
Stewart,  Commodore,  473 
Stiles,  President  Ezra,   19,  26;    Calvin 
ism,  31,  32;    learning,  233,  271 
Mrs.  Ezra,  150 
Miss  Ruth,  47 
The  Misses,  151 
Storrs,  Rev.  Andrew,  143 
Strong,  Dr.  Joseph,  404-408 
Sturges,  Hon.  Lewis  B.,  432 
Suffield,  443 

Suffrage,  universal,  469,  471 
Sunday,  observance  of,  91,  97;   elections 

on,  97 

Suppaun,  113 

Swift,  Chief  Justice,  357,  469,  478 
Tallmadge,  Col.  Benjamin,  440,  447 
Taxation,  Conn,  system  of,  303 ;    based 

on  income,  304;  and  polls,  306 
Temperance  movement,  325 
Ten  Broeck,  General  Abraham,  92 
C,  108,  109,  no,  136 
Sheriff,  124 

Territories  of  the  U.  S.  in  1800,  422 
Texas  Question,  The,  473 
Thanksgiving  Day,  112,  188 
Theatricals,  private,  105,  113 
Theology,  49* -493 
Threyh,  John,  29 
Throop,  Miss  Sally,  9 
Tisdale  School  at  Lebanon,  27 
Toleration  party,  prevails  in  Conn.,  36; 

its  founder,  449 
Tolland  County,  242 
Tracy,  Hon.  Uriah,  143,  337,  411 

Mrs.  Uriah,  143 
Travelling,  good  of,  229 


Index 


503 


Treadwell,  Gov.,  400 

Treaties,  Conflict  between,  426;  Jay's, 
409,  410;  with  France,  424-427 

Tristam  Shandy,  115,  123 

Troup,  Col.,  101,  106,  154 

Trumbull,  Judge  John,  25,  26 

Turnpikes,  good  opinion  of,  371 ;  Con 
necticut  favored  them  early,  371 ; 
protection  against  railroad  competi 
tion,  367;  S.  B.  is  an  officer  in 
several,  372 

United  States,  under  the  Articles  of 
Confederation,  287,  385 ;  under  the 
Constitution,  288;  need  of  a  Con 
stitution,  390 ;  attack  on  Constitution 
answered,  293;  military  establish 
ment,  405 ;  the  public  lands,  422 ; 
naval  construction,  455 

Vacations,  229 

Van  Rensselaer,  Col.,  funeral  of,  128 
John,  90,  91,  137 
Kilian  K.,  90,  91  n.,  106 
Philip,  91,  96 
Stephen,  91 

Van  Buren,  President  Martin,  473 

Van  Vechten,  A.,  136 
Miss  Lydia,  103,  104,  105 

Varnor,  James,  123 

Vermont,  in  1791,  278;  scarcity  of  letter 
paper,  402;  negotiations  with  N.  Y., 

403 

Voluntown,  209 

Wales,  Professor  Samuel,  85,  203 

War  of  1812,  458,  459,  461 

Washington,  General  George,  344;  com 
memoration  of,  414;  mausoleum, 
43i 


Washington,  City  of  in  1803,  329,  343, 

347;  removal  of  seat  of  government 

to,  423,  n 

Waterhouse,  Dr.,  153 
Webster,  Noah,  235,  282;  his  dictionary, 

456 
Westerlo,  Rev.  Eilardus,  90,  91,  93,  95, 

96,  97,  103,  116,  137,  138,  139,  141 
Whackets,  game  of,  100 
Whitney,  Eli,  428-430 
Willard,  President,  of  Harvard,  226 
Williams,  John,  79 
Windsor,  Vt,  409 
Witter,  Jacob,  5,  14,  201 
Wolcott,    Gov.    Oliver,    302;     appointed 

Circuit     Judge,     433;      becomes     a 

Democrat,  467 
Frederick,  466 
Women,  manners  of,  in  Charleston  and 

the  South,  261 
Wood,  Dr.,  113 

Miss  Lois,  41-46 
Worcester,  Mass.,  470 
Workhouses,  323 
Wrentham,  220 
Wright,  Miss  Lydia,  143 
Yale,    College,    student   life,    18;     balls, 

285,  Paper  War  over,  136;    singing 

school,    187;     College    Bully,    286; 

riots,  286;    Class  dinners,  484;    the 

Gibbs  Cabinet,  311 
Yantic,  29,  107  n. 

Yates,  Judge  Robert,  122,  141,  147,  395 
Peter  W.,  86,  90 ;  as  a  law  teacher,  92, 

134,  177 
Young,  Dr.,  131,  137 


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RECALL 


LIBRARY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 

Book  Slip-35m-7,'62(D296s4)458 


Baldwin,  S.E. 

Life  and  letters. 


Call  Number: 

E302.6 
B19 

B3 


7?  3 


264218 


